Loading document...
Application No.: 20/01193/B Applicant: Manx Utilities Authority Proposal: Installation of air source heat pump Site Address: 10 Melbourne Street Douglas Isle Of Man IM2 3HB Planning Officer: Mr Peiran Shen Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 21.12.2020 _________________________________________________________________
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions
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.
Reason: To ensure the development is implemented according to the plan submitted and in the interest of protecting amenities of neighbouring property.
Reason: To ensure the development is implemented according to the plan submitted and in the interest of protecting amenities of neighbouring property.
This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. This application is considered to comply with General Policy 2, Environment Policy 23 and Energy Policy 4 of the Strategic Plan.
This approval relates to the submitted documents, location plan, site plan, production information, noise assessment, position illustration all date-stamped as having been received on 9th October 2020.
None _____________________________________________________________________________
1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The application site is the residential curtilage of 10 Melbourne Street, Douglas, a twostorey end-of-terrace dwelling located on the northeast corner of Melbourne Street and Falcon Street.
2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 The current planning application seeks approval for the installation of an air source heat pump (ASHP) to generate renewable heating for the building. The ASHP would be located near the southeast corner of the site. - 2.2 The sound power level of the air source heat pump provided by the product specifications submitted is 60dB.
2.4 The noise assessment position is related to the first-floor window on the front elevation of 28 Falcon Street. The measured distance from the heat pump to the assessment position is
3.1 There is no previous application considered materially relevant to this application. - 4.0 PLANNING POLICY
4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site is within an area designated as Predominantly Residential in the Area Plan for the East.
4.2 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains a few policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of the planning application: - 4.3 The Strategic Objectives of the Strategic Plan provides a framework for the detailed policies and it sets the following objectives: "3.2 Resources
3.3 Environment (g) to minimize environmental pollution to air, water and land" - 4.4 Strategic Policy 5 states: "New development, including individual buildings, should be designed so as to make a positive contribution to the environment of the Island."
4.5 General Policy 2 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 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:
4.8 Environment Policy 23 states: "When considering alterations and improvements to existing facilities, the Department will require that consideration be given to the potential adverse impact of the proposed changes to existing neighbours." - 4.9 The Strategic Plan also provides guidance on the installation of renewable energy apparatus (12.2.8) which states: "The Department is fully supportive of the need to secure greater energy efficiency in new and existing development ……At the same time, the Department recognises that renewable energy sources can have adverse environmental impacts. ……There may also be other impacts such as noise…… The Department will assess any proposals … by weighing the benefits of using such renewable energy sources against the environmental impact arising in any particular site." - 4.10 Accordingly it is required to assess Energy Policy 4 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, which states: "Development involving alternative sources of energy supply, including wind, water and tide power, and the use of solar panels, will be judged against the environmental objectives and policies set out in this Plan."
5.1 Douglas Borough Council has no objections on this application (04/11/2020). 5.2 DoI Highway Services states there is no highway interest in this application (09/11/2020). 6.0 ASSESSMENT 6.1 The key issue relates to the potential impact (noise) on neighbouring amenities by the development and the visual impacts upon the character of the area.
6.2 The proposed ASHP is promoting the reduce consumption of fossil fuels and therefore positively contribution to Strategic Policy 5 and should be encouraged. The ASHP generally has higher energy efficiency than typical modern boilers and therefore also fits in GP2 (n).
6.3 The installation of Air Source Heat Pump has been classified as a Permitted Development when it complies with certain conditions within the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development and Change of Use)(Amendment) Order 2020. This proposal does not comply with condition (b), which requires the ASHP to be at least 1m away from the site boundary. For this reason, the proposal is being assessed under this application.
6.3 According to EP 23, the addition of noise is a material consideration. The units would be located to the rear of the site and would be approx. 5.8m away from the closest neighbouring boundary. Accordingly, the proposal may have some impact on neighbouring property. - 6.4 In terms of noise impact, the assessment is conducted under MCS 020 Planning Standards for permitted development installations of wind turbines and air source heat pumps on domestic premises. This standard has been approved by the Steering Group of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. It was prepared by MCS, Defra (UK), DECC (UK) and DCLG(UK). It is a compulsory standard for ASHP to be Permitted Development in the UK. The standard set a 42dB or under at the assessment position as an acceptable level of noise. This is compared to a background noise level of 40dB. - 6.5 Under this assessment, the noise level is considered to be 41dB, which is under the 42dB limit. Therefore, the noise impact is considered to be acceptable. - 6.6 In relation to the potential visual impact upon the area, it is not visible to the public and therefore has no impact on the character of the area.
7.1 The proposal is considered to comply with General Policy 2, Environment Policy 23 and Energy Policy 4 of the Strategic Plan. Therefore, it is recommended for an approval. - 8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS
8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019, the following persons are automatically interested persons:
8.2 The decision-maker must determine:
I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status.
Decision Made : Permitted Date: 22.12.2020 Determining officer
Signed : S CORLETT Sarah Corlett Principal Planner
Copyright in submitted documents remains with their authors. Request removal
View as Markdown