5 November 2020 · Planning Committee
Island Media Studios, Mountain View Innovation Centre, Jurby Road, Lezayre, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM7 2eb
The site is an 11-acre former film studio complex with four large buildings now used for offices, research, food/drink, storage and community events. The proposal sought to remove a condition limiting community/exhibition/conference uses to 8 days per month (max 5 consecutive days) and only one activity at a time, argu…
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The application was finely balanced but approved as the proposal would not have significant impacts upon public or private amenities to warrant refusal, complying with IOM Strategic Plan policies.
Strategic Policy 1
Requires optimising use of previously developed land/buildings, efficient site use, and utilising infrastructure. Officer assessed site as previously developed with redundant film buildings now repurposed without expansion, using existing access/parking.
General Policy 3
Permits development on unzoned land if previously developed with significant buildings where redundant and redevelopment reduces landscape impact. Site qualifies as large existing structures on white land, with planting scheme mitigating visibility; no new buildings proposed.
Environment Policy 1
Protects countryside unless overriding national need. Assessed as no overriding need required as change of use intensification acceptable without landscape harm, aided by recent planting.
Environment Policy 22
Prohibits unacceptable harm from noise/light pollution etc. to amenities. Tested against nearest bungalow; judged no significant impact expected despite event potential.
Transport Policy 4
Requires highways to accommodate generated traffic safely. Improvements to access and speed limit, plus no Highway Services objection, satisfied policy.
Business Policy 1
Encourages employment growth if policy compliant. Supports site viability for offices/R&D/community uses given film decline.
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.
Specific use classes
For the avoidance of doubt approval is hereby given only for the following additional uses (as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 2019 - or equivalent classes of any order which replaces it): - Main Film Studio Building - Research & Development excluding light industrial (Use Class 2.2); - Building referred as "Babbages" (Ground Floor) - Food and Drink (Use Class 1.3) - canteen open to members of the public, financial and professional services (Use Class 1.2) and offices (Use Class 2.1); - "Babbages" (First Floor) - Financial and professional services (Use Class 1.2) and offices (Use Class 2.1); and - Existing two storey office block with attached small sound stage/workshop - Financial and professional services (Use Class 1.2), Offices (Use Class 2.1), Research & Development excluding light industrial (Use Class 2.2), and Storage or distribution (Use Class 2.4). Reason: The application has been judged and considered acceptable on the basis of the above proposed uses only.
Operating hours
No visitors/customers shall remain in the existing Film Workshop Building, the Film Studio building and the "Babbages" building outside the following hours 0730hrs till 0000hrs. These times do not apply if the existing buildings are being used for the purposes of the making and/or production of films. Reason: In the interests of the residential amenity of the area.
no objection
do not object
One resident objected to the removal of restrictive conditions due to impacts on residential amenity, Lezayre Parish Commissioners approved the application 4-1 majority, and DOI Highways Division did not oppose.
Key concern: No change to residential amenities to justify removal of restrictive conditions on usage
Baldromma Farm Bungalow owners
ObjectionThere has been no change to the residential amenities in the vicinity...therefore the restrictive conditions should remain valid.; Are the Planning Department taken in by this ? We hope not...; the film studio guise is only brought to the forefront to try to validate their commitment to the film industry
Lezayre Parish Commissioners
SupportApproved 4-1 Majority
Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Division
No ObjectionDo not oppose
