| From: | Redacted | | --- | --- | | Sent: | 17 June 2020 10:32 | | To: | DEFA, Planning | | Cc: | Brazier, Ross | | Subject: | PA 20/00497/B | | Categories: | Helen |

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Submission by The Isle of Man Victorian Society , 52, Alberta Drive, Onchan, IM3 1LX Tel 621733 Amenity Group with an interest in Victorian and Edwardian Buildings and localities.

PA 20/00497/B Alterations and installation of replacement windows, to front elevation, 44, Athol Street, Douglas.

We have viewed this application and would comment as follows. The property falls within a Conservation Area and the property forms part of the street scape of an architecturally important street. The oriel bay stems from the time when the property was occupied by the late Mr Jack Kermode's Express Radio business and was used as a shop window to display electrical goods. This was at a time when there were a number of retail units in Athol Street, Coupe's grocery store, Clucas' Fruit and Veg, James Caine's haberdashery, J T Clucas' furniture, Central Motors garage and car showroom, James Kissack's groceries, Fobel DIY shop, Manx Radio Rentals tv and radio, Isle of Man Times newspapers and T E Kelly stationery and office equipment. The shop window was appropriate to the use of the building at the time but architecturally inappropriate to the building and the streetscape. The Georgian frame rebuild came at the time the building was occupied/ owned by Breadner and Solly, chartered accountants. The desire to rebuild the oriel, possibly through necessity, presents a wonderful and praiseworthy opportunity to return the elevation of the property to its original state with a well-proportioned single sliding sash window. Perhaps this could be discussed with the applicant. With regard to the upper windows, in several cases in Athol Street the original small pane Georgian sashes were replaced by single pane windows at the turn/ in the early years of the twentieth century. Given that the quality of design of uPVC sliding sash windows with externally applied glazing bars varies in quality and effectiveness, the option of going for a late Victorian appearance is perhaps preferable - providing- the windows are fitted with horns.

Redacted

Caseworker Isle of Man Victorian Society