DEC Officer Report

Application No.: 20/00551/D Applicant: Elite Communications Group Proposal: Erection of illuminated signage Site Address: 50 Athol Street Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 1JB Senior Planning Officer: Mr Jason Singleton Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 14.07.2020 _________________________________________________________________

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The advertisement(s) hereby granted consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.

Reason: To avoid the accumulation of unimplemented advertisement consents. This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason.

The application is recommended for approval as it is considered the proposed sign would be appropriate to the building and would not cause any unacceptable harm, helping to preserve the Conservation Area, therefore complying with GP 6 & 7; EP35 & 37 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.

Plans/Drawings/Information; This approval relates to drawing referenced 2006-001 Rev A, date stamped received on 18 May 2020. _______________________________________________________________

Interested Person Status

Additional Persons

None _____________________________________________________________________________

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE The application site is the curtilage of Number 50 Athol Street, a three storey mid- terraced building sited on the north western side of the Highway. The building sits within the Athol Street/Victoria Street Conservation Area. Within the street scene, each of the buildings features a degree of individuality and character which distinguished them from the neighbours.

- 2.0 THE PROPOSAL

2.1 Proposed is the installation of individual letters to read; 'elitegroup.im' the letters would measure a total area of 3.6m wide x 636mm high and pronounced 50mm from the face of the building. Each letter is to have a recessed opal acrylic back tray, with internal white halo effect, led lighting. The letters would be made from polished flat faced stainless steel. - 3.0 PLANNING POLICY

3.1 The local plan policy, designates the site as 'Predominantly Offices' under the Douglas Local Plan Order 1998 Map No. 1 (Central Area). The application site is also within the Athol Street/Victoria Street Conservation Area designated in 2007.

3.2 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. - 3.3 In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains two policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application, - 3.4 General Policy 2 states: "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;

3.5 General Policy 6 states: "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."

3.6 General Policy 7 states: "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." - 3.7 Environment Policy 35 states: "Within Conservation Areas, the department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development." - 3.8 Environment Policy 37 states: "As a general policy, advertisements within Conservation Areas will be permitted only if:

• i) the proposal preserves or enhances the Conservation Area;
• ii) the signage is in a style appropriate to the character of the area;
• iii) traditional materials and finishes are used and glossy and highly reflective materials are excluded from proposals; and
• iv) internally illuminated box fascia and projecting box signs are excluded from the proposals."

- 4.0 PLANNING HISTORY

4.1 84/00420/B - Alterations to front elevation including installation of new windows and door, 44 Athol Street, Douglas. APPROVED.

4.2 20/00497 - Alterations and installation of replacement windows to the front elevation. PENDING DECISION. - 5.0 REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 Douglas Borough Council has raised no objection (received on 25/06/20). 5.2 Highways Services do not object (Received on 19/06/20) but seek a condition applying;

"Luminance Level - At no time shall the Luminance level of the signs exceed the thresholds contained within the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) guidance document PLG05 - The Brightness of Illuminated Advertisements 2015 (or any subsequentamendment/replacement to this guidance).

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and highway safety". 6.0 ASSESSMENT 6.1 The fundamental issues to consider in the assessment of this planning application are;

• (i) the impact of the proposed signage on the character of 44 Athol Street;
• (ii) whether the proposed signage will preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Athol Street/Victoria Street Conservation Area.

6.2 The proposed form of signage would be considered relevant to the site / the buildings use and would be appropriate on the appearance of the front façade. The sign is of a high quality that would be centrally positioned above the front door and no wider than the adjacent windows flanking the door. The size and scale of the proposed signage is not considered to cause a detrimental impact on public or private amenity and given it size and scale in relation to the context on the front elevation of this building would be appropriate.

6.3 Traditionally signage on buildings would have been brass plaques but as much of Athol Street has been modernised and updated (buildings and signage) over the decades. Having liaised (15/07/20) with the Planning Departments Registered Building Officer, we conclude this form of signage would be appropriate without detracting from those notable features mentioned in the areas Conservation appraisal. - 7.0 CONCLUSION

7.1 The application is recommended for approval as it is considered the proposed sign would be appropriate to the building and would not cause any unacceptable harm, helping to preserve the Conservation Area, therefore complying with GP 6 & 7; EP35 & 37 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. - 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 the Head of Development Management in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 15.07.2020 Determining officer

Signed : S BUTLER Stephen Butler Head of Development Management

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