24 October 2011 · Delegated - Director of Planning and Building Control (Michael Gallagher)
Field 521888, Cooil Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 2qz
The proposal sought retrospective consent for a prominent double-sided sign elevated on a timber frame, advertising approved office blocks (PAs 11/00169/B and 11/00170/B) on the same undeveloped field within the Isle of Man Business Park adjacent to Cooil Road.
Click a button above to find applications similar to this one.
See how this application compares to similar ones — policies, conditions, and outcomes side by side.
The officer assessed the sign against General Policy 6, which permits on-site advertisements if they are high quality, do not detract from the surrounding area, and pose no highway hazard.
General Policy 2
General development control policy; mentioned as relevant but not specifically tested against the advertisement proposal.
General Policy 6
Permits on-site advertisements in towns/villages if high standard design/materials relating well to site/building, in keeping without detracting from area, and no highway hazard. Officer found it failed the 'do not detract from surrounding area' test due to size/siting creating visual clutter; appeal inspector agreed it complied with design and highways but failed on character impact in semi-rural Cooil Road stretch.
General Policy 7
Restricts off-site advertisements; applied to prior PA11/00218/D (refused as unrelated signage added 'unnecessary' clutter) but not this case as sign now promotes on-site offices.
Environment Policy 35
Mentioned as relevant alongside para 8.12.1 but not detailed in assessment.
do not object to the application
do not oppose the application; has no adverse traffic management, parking or road safety implications
The original application PA 11/01256/D for retrospective consent to erect a temporary (24 months) back-to-back advertising sign was refused by the Director of Planning and Building Control on 24 October 2011 due to its size, siting, and design causing unwarranted visual clutter contrary to General Policy 6 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007. The appellant argued the sign relates to approved office buildings on the same site within the Business Park (unlike prior refused PA 11/00218/D for off-site advertising), complies with GP6, is temporary, common practice, and does not harm amenity in a commercial area with existing signage. The Council defended refusal citing visual clutter and prior inspector's findings on similar signage. No inspector's report provided, but Minister accepted inspector's recommendation to dismiss the appeal on 8 March 2012, upholding the refusal.
Precedent Value
Even on-site advertising in business parks must strictly meet GP6 criteria on size/design/siting to avoid 'unwarranted clutter'; prior refusals for similar signs carry weight; temporary consent requests strengthen cases but prominence in orderly commercial areas remains risky.
