25 February 2026 · Planning Committee
Ballakermeen High School, St. Catherines Drive, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 4be
The proposal involves erecting up to 150 bell tents (each with a 5m diameter footprint, spaced 3m apart with fire corridors) on the school playing fields for short periods tied to events like Isle of Man TT, Manx Grand Prix, Classic TT, Southern 100, and Pre-TT Classic Races, using school toilets, showers, and parking.…
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The proposal was approved because it complies with Strategic Policy 8 (tourist development), General Policy 2 (general development considerations), Environment Policy 22 (statutory nuisances), and Bus…
Strategic Policy 8
Supports tourist development; officer assessed the campsite as low-impact use of existing school facilities to provide necessary accommodation during high-demand motorsport events, contributing to economic vitality.
General Policy 2
Requires consideration of amenity, highways, etc.; satisfied via controlled access, parking provision, and limited disturbance not amounting to statutory nuisance, with no objections received.
Environment Policy 22
Prevents unacceptable noise/disturbance; temporary use during school holidays with past operation without complaints deemed not to create statutory nuisance, especially compared to school use.
Business Policy 11
Supports sustainable tourism; aligns with using underutilised school fields for short-term visitor accommodation tied to events, enhancing Island's motorsport tourism offer.
Time limit
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.
Vehicular access restrictions
The vehicular access onto St. Catherine's Drive at the southwest corner of the site shall be used for vehicular exit only and shall not be used for vehicular entry. There shall be no means of vehicular access directly onto Westbourne Drive to the east. Reason: In the interests of highway safety.
Maximum tents
There shall be a maximum of 150 tents pitched within the site during the approved period of operation. Reason: In the interests of public and private amenity.
Events and years restriction
The use of the site for camping hereby approved shall only be undertaken in years 2026 to 2031 (inclusive) in connection with; (a) The Isle of Man TT; (b) Manx Grand Prix; (c) Isle of Man Classic TT; (d) Southern 100; (e) Pre-TT Classic Races. Reason: The application is for the use of the site for a limited number of years for motorcycling events as listed and the assessment has been made on this temporary basis. While provision should be made for setting up and dismantling the camp site, the site should not be used for camping outside those times reasonably associated with these race periods.
Set-up and removal timing
Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Department, the set-up and removal of the tents shall be undertaken no sooner than 5 days before the first designated practice for any of the purposes mentioned in condition 4. Any structure and tents must be dismantled and removed from the site no later than 3 days following the last race for any of the purposes mentioned in Condition 4. Reason: for the avoidance of doubt and because the application is for the use of the site for the upcoming four years of TT motorcycling events only and the assessment has been made on this temporary basis of the site during the motorsport periods.
Parking use restriction
The parking area, as shown on the location plan, shall not be used other than for the parking of vehicles in connection with the school and camping use hereby approved. Reason: To ensure that sufficient provision is made for off-street parking and turning of vehicles in the interests of highway safety.
No objection; no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network functionality and/or parking as there is a large amount of car parking available within the school site for visitors and welfare/bin facilities within the school.
No Objection
