DEC Officer Report

Application No.: 20/00062/D Applicant: Cu-Plas Callow (IOM) Limited Proposal: Erection of non-illuminated signage board Site Address: Cu-Plas Snugborough Trading Estate Union Mills Isle Of Man IM4 4LG Planning Officer: Miss Lucy Kinrade Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Refused Date of Recommendation: 25.03.2020 _________________________________________________________________ Reasons for Refusal R : Reasons for Refusal O : Notes attached to reasons - R 1. The proposed sign by reason of its siting being within the roadside hedge, away from the building and not relatable to or recognisable as part of the businesses site fails the principles of General Policy 7 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. - R 2. By reason of the siting, design and size of the sign in a prominent roadside location results in an adverse visual impact on the streetscene and surrounding area failing the principles of - General Policy 6 (b) of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.

_______________________________________________________________ Interested Person Status – Additional Persons

None _____________________________________________________________________________

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The application site is a small area of grass verge on the northern side of Peel Road and along the land boundary of Cu-Plas a business located within the Snugborough Trading Estate, Union Mills, Braddan.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 The current application proposes the installation of a non illuminated sign measuring

• 2.4m wide x 1.9m high fixed to 100mm x 100mm posts. The sign is to be timber fixed with a blue acrylic sheet containing the 'CuPlas' logo under which is 'plumbing and heating supplies' and the opening hours of both the show room and trade counter.
• 3.0 PLANNING HISTORY

3.1 There is also a contemporaneous application for the erection of signage for the same company within the entrance to the Snugborough Estate under PA 20/00063/D.

3.2 While no planning history can be found for any roadside advertisement in the area similar to as proposed, there have been two applications in the Snugborough Estate;

• o PA 15/00237/D for the erection of non-illuminated signage at the entrance of the industrial estate and adjacent to the current site. This application was refused at officer level and recommended for refusal by the Inspector due to its location not being at the site or building it was to relate to and the adverse visual impact on its surroundings. This recommendation was overturned by the Minister and approved. The sign approved was 2.4m wide and 1.5m high and fixed to two standing poles.
• o PA 06/00714/D for the erection of advertising signage for 'Lifestyle Furniture' within the same grass verge which was refused at officer level and no appeal was submitted.

- 4.0 PLANNING POLICY

4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site lies within an area designated on the Braddan Local Plan as 'Predominantly Industrial'.

4.2 The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 make it clear that the only considerations which can be applied to applications made under them are in the interests of amenity and public safety. In the case of amenity, such things as the general characteristics of the area need to be taken into account along with the presence of any features of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest and the public safety should consider the safety of any person using a road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome including the obscuration of any traffic sign or similar.

4.3 In addition to The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 we may also consider General Policies 6 and 7 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 which state: - 4.4 General Policy 6:

"Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they:

• (a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed;
• (b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and
• (c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard."

4.5 General Policy 7: Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements on sites or buildings other than those to which they relate will not generally be permitted.

- 5.0 REPRESENTATIONS

Copies of representations received can be viewed on the government's website. This report contains summaries only.

5.1 Braddan Parish Commissioners - Objection (14/02/2020) - they do not wants to see a proliferation of signage along the hedgerows of the main road.

5.2 Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highway Services - Do Not oppose - sign does not affect forward visibility or sightlines from any junction. - 6.0 ASSESSMENT

6.1 This type of way signage can be common across industrial estates and business parks alike and in the case of this application the sign is positioned along the edge of the site and within the roadside boundary verge and hedging along Peel Road, the sign by reason of its siting and position is not expected to result in any public harm or highway visibility issues as confirmed by DOI.

6.2 Cu-Plas and the majority of Snugborough Industrial estate sits at a level lower than the main road and behind the roadside hedging, views are very limited and only during winter periods are glimpses of buildings achieved. The section of Peel Road passing the estate comprises mostly hedging and grass verge along both sides of the road and is mostly free from buildings and clutter, this open stretch forms a welcome green space and buffer proving a positive visual break between the main hub of Douglas and the service village of Union Mills.

6.3 Although the sign is not located on the building to which it relates it is located within the boundary of the site. Its position however, being along the main road and amongst the roadside hedging, does not make it easily recognisable or identifiable as being part of the building or site, and it is questionable whether the proposal truly complies with the principles of

General Policy 7 of the Strategic Plan.

6.4 Furthermore, the design of the sign and large size being siting in this fairly prominent roadside location results in an unacceptable and adverse visual impact on the streetscene which forms an arterial route into Douglas and bring visual harm to the immediate surrounding area and the green buffer zone contrary to the principles of General Policy 6 (b).

- 7.0 CONCLUSION

7.1 The proposed sign by reason of its siting away from the building and within the roadside hedge fails the principles of General Policy 7, and the siting, design and size of the sign in this prominent roadside location results in an adverse visual impact failing the principles of General Policy 6 (b). - 8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS

8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013 (As Amended), the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• o The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;
• o Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material;
• o The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.
• o the Highways, Ports and Railways divisions of the Department of Infrastructure. 8.2 The decision maker must determine:
• o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than those explicitly listed above) are material; and

• o whether there are other persons to those listed above who should be given Interested Person Status.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Refused Date: 01.04.2020 Determining officer

Signed : C BALMER Chris Balmer Principal Planner

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