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This planning application is for the provision of temporary accommodation for TT visitors on the current vacant site of the former Prison on Victoria Road, Douglas.
The proposal is to be known as the IOM TT Village and this application is to cover the 2020 TT festive period only and the proposed village will be in operation for 15 days only.
The applicant is the Department of Enterprise who have entered into negotiations with the landowners the Department of Home Affairs, who have agreed to license the DfE use of the site for the 2020 TT period.
The need for accommodation had been identified with official TT sponsors highlighting the lack of available accommodation during the TT period for their guests who want to be near the paddock but not sleeping in a tent.
A snooze box arrangement had previously been utilised on Noble Park as a solution, but this was not viable in 2019 as the company had ceased trading and following paddock restructuring the Nobles site had be for allocated for rider motor homes, retail, parking and team vehicles etc.
As identified in previous planning 18/001346 /B, an application to temporarily locate 150 No units on the vacant site of the former IOM Prison on Victoria Road was sought and approved for TT 2019.
This application seeks to replicate this proposal with minor increase to 168 No units.
The proposed operator for this village is Duke Events Ltd, part of the Duke Group - an established name in motorsport who has over a period, diversified into travel and package tour operation with Duke Travel Ltd. They have been appointed as an Approved Travel Partner of the TT.
The operator was approved under previous planning 18/001346/B to temporarily locate 150 units on the proposed site of the former IOM Prison on Victoria Road and operated the TT village during TT 2019.
During TT 2019, the TT Village had achieved an occupancy level of $61 \%$, which Duke considered to be an 'encouraging' result, although not enough to cover year 1 costs. The operation is expected to have higher occupancy in 2020 due to interest in repeat bookings from a large proportion of the 2019 clients, ongoing shortage of hotel accommodation and greater awareness of the facility and the standards offered.
The supplier of the temporary accommodation is proposed to be 'Bunkabin' the same supplier as 2019 and the proposed configuration is 6 single storey avenues of double rows of cabins 12 No of 14 No cabins long. Each cabin room has 2 beds and average occupancy is expected to be 1.59 persons and the average stay 4.1 nights (based on 2019 bookings).
The units would be operational from 23rd May to 7th June 2020 with set up period of 8 days and take-down of 4 days. (It should be noted the units are due to be used at the Glastonbury Festival which commences on the 24th June 2020).
The clients for this accommodation will be a mix of corporate guests of sponsors, European visitors and short stayers, who will predominately be flying to the event. Key TT Sponsors have provisionally booked some 300 bed nights already which will be rolled out subject to receipt of approval.
The supplier of the cabins has indicated it will take some 7 days to erect the village with first guests and operation as 'IOMTT Village' from Saturday 23rd May to 7th June 2020 with removal commencing Monday 8th June 2020. The site will be fully reinstated to its 'as before' condition or better.
During operation the Village will be permanently manned by a site manager, located on site in a temporary office, supplemented by security and housekeeping staff. All rooms will be serviced with onsite collection of laundry and refuse.
All cabins will have connection to main supplies, via a rear service spine :-
Low level lighting will again be proposed to the avenues between the cabins and key areas, which take the form of LED light fittings mounted on the cabins to limit possible light pollution.
The guests will be able to have a continental style breakfast within a tented reception marquee area before leaving the Village for the day. Tea and coffee refreshments also be provided upon return but it should be noted there will be no retail or alcohol sales and no music/performance events on site.
Based on 2019 visitor statistics it is expected that very few guests will have their own transport, the corporate guests profile indicates they will be transported by sponsors vehicles or utilise either taxis or minibus arrangements to site. Notwithstanding, there is provision for 10 cars and motorcycles within the hardstanding area adjacent to the entrance.
For vehicular access and for deliveries drop off etc is proposed to use the existing entrance and exit from the old Prison building on to Victoria Road only. Pedestrians can also access site from Upper Duke Road as well as Victoria Road.
The agent /operator has previously approached or consulted the following organisations in connection with and prior to submission of this application :-
Further and continued consultation is required along with Environmental Health and DEFA. The operator also proposes to communicate these proposals to the neighbours by personal visits and a letter drop and consult with same.
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