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PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Application No. : 20/00096/B Applicant : Department Of Infrastructure Proposal : Installation of a 20 cycle shelter Site Address : Castle Rushen High School Arbory Road Castletown Isle Of Man IM9 1RE

Planning Officer: Mr Paul Visigah Photo Taken : 25.02.2020 Site Visit : 25.02.2020 Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation

Recommendation

Recommended Decision:

Permitted Date of Recommendation: 09.03.2020 __

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. Overall the proposal is considered to be a minor development which would have no adverse impact upon the appearance or amenities of the surrounding area. It is considered to meet with the standards of General Policy 2, Strategic Policy 10 and Community Policy 5 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, and therefore considered to be acceptable.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This approval relates to the supporting information and drawing number CRHS 1, 101, 2, HAM- COMP and GA01 date stamped and received 29/01/2020. __

Interested Person Status - Additional Persons

None __

Officer’s Report

THE SITE

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1.1 The application site is the curtilage of Castle Rushen High School, Arbory Road, Castletown. The site is situated to the eastern side of the school with access to Arbory Road via the access on the eastern boundary of the school. The area of the proposed works is a hardstanding area designated as a parking area by the school gymnasium. This area is not visible from the outside of the school and is only visible from the access which is completely concealed from Arbory Road.

THE PROPOSAL 2.1 Proposed is the installation of a cycle shelter to accommodate 20 bicycles within the school premises. The structure will be 6m by 4.7m and 2.4m high. The structure takes a half semi-cylindrical shape and has coloured metal framework.

2.2 The shelter will be positioned on the car park on the eastern section of the school with cyclists approaching from the access on the eastern boundary of the site. This shelter would be within a secure location on site. There would be direct access to the parking area and access on this section of the school.

PLANNING POLICIES 3.1 The application site is within an area zoned as "Secondary School" identified on the Area Plan for the South 2013, and the site is not within a Conservation Area. Given the nature of the application it is appropriate to consider General Policy 2 and Community Policy 5 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.

3.2 The proposed land use is consistent with the designation and as such General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan is applicable here: General Policy 2: "Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space; (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan and

3.3 Strategic Policy 10: New development should be located and designed such as to promote a more integrated transport network with the aim to:

(a) minimise journeys, especially by private car; (b) make best use of public transport; (c) not adversely affect highway safety for all users, and (d) encourage pedestrian movement

3.4 Paragraph 11.5.3 of the Strategic Plan The long term target is to reduce the level of car parking required for town centre developments and seek to develop more sustainable staff and visitor transport plans including improved public transport, staff buses, shared and pooled cars, cycling and walking. Consideration should be given to the provision of cycle parking for staff and customers in non- residential development and to the provision of secure cycle stores in apartments. In the shorter term, the Department proposes the following general policy in respect of parking provision.

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3.5 It should also be noted that the thrust of the Strategic Plan is to support sustainable development which is supported by recent initiatives to encourage active travel, such as the Active Travel Strategy 2018 - 2021, formulated by Department of Infrastructure and actions to address Climate Change in accordance with Greater efficiency Cleaner energy Resilient economy A climate challenge mitigation strategy for the Isle of Man 2016 - 2020 and The Climate Change Bill which is to be introduced in 2020 to commit the government and future administrations to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in line with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.

3.6 Community Policy 5 Permission will generally be given for proposals to improve or extend existing schools and institutions of high education and to build new schools, subject to their being sited and designed in accordance with the other policies of this plan, having particular regard to the potential for community use of the buildings and the associated Open Space.

PLANNING HISTORY 4.1 There have been a number of previous applications for the High School, one of which is considered to be specifically material in the assessment of the current application. PA 19/01121/B for replacement of an existing bike shelter with a high level canopy.

The designated bike shelter on the school site was altered by this application and replaced with a high level canopy and as such the school currently has no designated bike shelter.

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

5.1 Representation from the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Division confirms that they 'Do not oppose' in the letter dated 18 February 2020.

5.2 Castletown Commissioners although consulted on 10 February 2020, have not commented on this application at the time of drafting this report.

ASSESSMENT 6.1 The key considerations in the assessment of this application are principle of the proposed facility, the impact on the visual amenity of the area, as well as the impact on highway safety.

6.2 Principle of the proposed facility 6.2.1 The principle of the installation of the bicycle shelter is in accordance with the sustainable objectives of the Strategic Plan and other Government initiatives. It also accords with Strategic Policy 10 and Community Policy 5 and General Policy 2h and i.

6.3 The impact on the visual amenity of the area 6.3.1 The proposal would not be visible from the main public thoroughfares and therefore would not have an unacceptable impact upon the character and appearance of the school or area in general. Moreover, the structure is not unattractive and does not detract from the character of the nearby buildings, particularly the gymnasium to which it would be located beside. Given that it is within the school and would not be visible from the public thoroughfare it is considered that the proposal would not have an unacceptable impact upon the amenities of neighbouring properties or the character and appearance of the street scene.

6.4 The impact on highway safety The access to the site is clear and safe although used by vehicles en route to the car park. Cyclists using the shelter would have good visibility and be visible to approaching cars using the car park', and as such the development would not have unacceptable impacts on highway

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safety within the premises. If the shelter results in fewer students driving or being driven to school then this will improve highway safety as it would reduce the need for more vehicles using the limited parking areas.

CONCLUSION 7.1 The development is in accordance with the relevant parts of the Strategic plan as well as with other Government initiatives and is supported.

INTERESTED PERSON STATUS 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019, the following persons are automatically interested persons: (a) the applicant (including an agent acting on their behalf); (b) any Government Department that has made written representations that the Department considers material; (c) the Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure; (d) Manx National Heritage where it has made written representations that the Department considers material; (e) Manx Utilities where it has made written representations that the Department considers material; (f) the local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated; and (g) a local authority adjoining the authority referred to in paragraph (f) where that adjoining authority has made written representations that the Department considers material.

8.2 The decision maker must determine:

o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than the Department of Infrastructure Highway Services Division) 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 the Head of Development Management in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 09.03.2020

Determining officer

Signed : S BUTLER

Stephen Butler

Head of Development Management

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