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PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS Application No.: Applicant: Proposal: 14/00314/CON Mr Stephen Hamer Registered Building consent for internal works to provide a kitchen, storage and changing area, removal / re organising of pews and inner door alterations. (Registered Building Nos. 248) St Michaels Church Main Road Kirk Michael Isle Of Man IM6 lER Site Address: Case Officer: Photo Taken : Site Visit: Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Mr S Moore Officer's Report THE SITE The site defined In red represents part of the curtilage of St. Michaels Parish Church, located in the centre of Kirk Michael village. 1. The church is renowned for its landmark status, its heavy Gothic style, the impressive stone lych-gate and the Norse stone crosses which are kept inside the church. It is also noted for being the burial place of five Bishops including the legendary Bishop Wilson, which was due to its proximity to Bishopscourt, situated just north of Kirk Michael. 1.2 THE PROPOSAL Registered Building consent for internal works to provide a kitchen, storage and changing area, removal / re-organising of pews and inner door alterations. 2. PLANNING HISTORY There are no applications considered to be specifically material In the assessment of the current application. The following two are the only recent applications relating to the property: 3. 00/00070/B Erection of flagpole antenna, 2 dishes and renewal of tower roof, Kirk Michael Church, Main Road, Kirk Michael - Application Permitted 92/00286/B Formation of access off Christian Avenue to burial ground, Kirk Michael Church, Main Road, Kirk Michael - Application Withdrawn DEVELOPMENT PLAN POLICIES The site lies within an area annotated as St Michael’s Church on the Kirk Michael Local Plan of 1994. The site aiso iies within Kirk Michael's Conservation Area designated in 2006 and the Building is Registered (RB 248). Whilst the church is located within the Kirk Michael 4. 12 June 2014 14/00314/CON Page 1 of 7

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Consen/ation Area, given the nature of the application, i.e. that the proposals are purely internal, it is appropriate to consider Strategic Poiicy 4 and Environment Poiicies 32 and 34 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan (20th June 2007). Strategic Poiicy 4 Proposals for development must: Protect or enhance the fabric and setting of Ancient Monuments, Registered Buildings, Conservation Areas, buildings and structures within National Heritage Areas and sites of archaeological interest; Protect or enhance the landscape quality and nature conservation value of urban as well as rural areas but especially in respect to development adjacent to Areas of Special Scientific Interest and other designations; and Not cause or lead to unacceptable environmental pollution or disturbance. (a) (b) (c) Environment Policy 32 states: "Extensions or alterations to a Registered Building which would affect detrimentally its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest will not be permitted.” Environment Policy 34 states: "In the maintenance, alteration or extension of pre-1920 buildings, the use of traditional materials will be preferred." RB/5: Alterations and Extensions: "In considering whether to grant planning approval for development which affects a registered building or its setting and in considering whether to grant registered building consent for any works, the Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. Registered Building consent is required for the building's alteration in any way which would affect its special architectural or historic character. There will be a genera! presumption against alteration or extension of registered buildings, except where a convincing case can be made, against the criteria set out in this section, for such proposals, Applicants for registered building consent for alteration or extension to a registered building must be able to justify their proposals. They will be required to show why the works which would affect the character of the registered building are desirable or necessary and they should provide full information to enable the Department to assess the likely impact of their proposals on the special architectural or historic interest of the building and on its setting. Where registered buildings are the subject of successive applications for alteration or extension, consideration will also be given to the cumulative affect upon the building’s special interest as a result of several minor works which may individualiy seem of little consequence." REPRESENTATIONS: Michael Commissioners has no objection 6. 6.1 Manx National Heritage make comment, but neither object or recommend approval. Page 2 of 14/00314/CON 12 June 2014 7

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"The documentation, whilst describing several of the interior wooden furnishings of the church, makes only limited reference to the pews, stating that the original arrangement was designed to provide for every Significant landholding within the parish, and indeed that the construction of the new church in 1835 was in part to answer the increased size of the population, This would imply a clear relationship between and Significance in, the size of the church, its internal fittings, and the historical pattern of landholding across the surrounding parish. There seems every reason to expect that the pews are original, although it is obvious that several have already been removed from the transepts and the back of the nave. By our estimate the current proposals will reduce the seating within the church to less than half the originally designed provision. Whilst generally supportive of the desire to make the church fit for its modern needs and uses, but mindful of the protected status of the building, we believe that it would be inappropriate for the development to proceed without some assessment and consideration of the potential Significance of the pews, The application makes reference to the repositioning of one of the medieval stone crosses, which will become vulnerable upon the removal of the pews adjacent to it. The application rather overstates our previous agreement with this proposal, although we are happy to record our willingness to explore options for the relocation of the cross to a more suitable location within the north transept. As we understand it, the stone belongs to the church, whilst MNH are its guardians under the terms of the Manx Museum and National Trust Act." It is fair to say that the pews are unremarkable in design and are 'generic' Victorian stained pine items of limited interest. ASSESSMENT The application seeks Registered Building consent for internal works to provide a kitchen, storage and changing area, removal / re-organising of pews and inner door alterations (Registered Building Nos. 248). 7. 7.1 The application for internal works is in five main areas; The removal of pews and the installation of an oak half screen across the South Transept to create a 'welcoming area' with occasional use as a Meeting Room. The internal doors will have glazed sections inserted into the upper panels to allow for the ingress of natural light. Remove ten pews and the re-orientate three pews in the South Aisle to provide a more multi­ purpose space. The South or Vicar's Vestry is proposed to be fitted out as a Kitchen with fitted kitchen units and a serving hatch through to the South Nave. The existing walls are to be over-panelled with plasterboard and painted and the existing door repiaced by a fire door. The North, or Choir Vestry over-board existing fibreboard wails with piasterboard, remove the free standing furniture and fit new cupboards. Increase the size of the Vestry by removal of the existing partition and the relocation of the door. The first three pews are to be removed at the junction of the North Aisle and the Northern Transept to provide an area for wheelchairs. The wooden floorboards are to be sanded and sealed. 14/00314/CON Page 3 of 12 June 2014 7

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7.2. The church was added to the Protected Buildings Register on 08th May 2009 for the following reasons: Architectural Interest and Aesthetic Quality: The church was designed by John Welsh, who was an architect of some repute. He designed many other important buildings in the Island, including several churches. Other significant buildings which he designed include the Tower of Refuge, the conversion of Castle Mona into a hotel, the House of Industry, Kirk Onchan church, Ballaugh parish church, St. Jude’s church, Kirk Christ church Lezayre, St. Luke's church Baldwin, St. Stephen's church Sulby and St. James's church Dalby. The heavy gothic design applied by John Welch is an unusual style for a Manx parish church. The main church building is an important feature in the local landscape and the stone lych- gate also contributes to the street scene. Some of the wooden furniture inside the church was made from oak planted by Bishop Wilson at Bishopscourt and the wood carvings were carried out by Kelly Brothers of Kirk Michael, who were once a major employer in the village, having built many local houses. The War Memorial in the church was designed by Archibald Knox. Historic Interest: Historicaily, the parish of Kirk Michael was one of the most important and powerful in the Island. It was the location of the Bishop's residence, sittings of Tynwald were regularly held there and the village even had its own courthouse. The present parish church was completed in 1835 and it was built on the vicar's ancient glebe, near to the 12th century parish church. A portion of the old church still remains in the church grounds and archaeological evidence has found that burials were taking place at this site well before llOOAD. The church is at the centre of the viliage. Kirk Michael is a linear settlement and the oldest properties are located close to the church on the main road. It is thought that the parish church was the nucleus for the expansion of the village. Close Historic Association: Due to the proximity of Bishopscourt, five Bishops have been buried in the churchyard, These include the famous Bishop Wilson (1698-1755), whose son Dr. Thomas Wilson rebuilt the chancel of the old parish church in 1776. John Welch, the architect, is noted for having designed many other churches on the Island for Bishop Ward, between 1830 and 1840. Of these, Kirk Christ church Lezayre, St. Luke's church Baldwin and St. Stephen’s church Sulby have already been Registered. Landmark Qualities: Being a linear settlement, Kirk Michael has one key thoroughfare (known as 'Main Street'), along which the parish church and the older houses are located. Looking northwards along Main Street from the south, the vista is dominated by the square tower of the church. Further away, approaching Kirk Michael from the Peel road, the church tower is a significant feature in the landscape, 14/00314/CON Page 4 of 12 June 2014 7

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Some of the other churches designed by John Welch also have notable towers so we can assume that this was a fairly typical design feature which he employed. Such churches Include Kirk Onchan church, Ballaugh parish church, St. Jude's church and Kirk Christ church Lezayre. Group Value: St. Michael's Parish Church is one of several churches on the Island dating from the 1830's which were designed by the architect John Welch, at the instruction of Bishop Ward. The removal of pews and the installation of an oak half screen across the South Transept to create a 'welcoming area' with occasional use as a Meeting Room have the largest impact upon the character of the Registered Buiiding. TTiis will have the effect of changing the volume of the church from its current'T' shape to more of an 'L' shape. Given the format of the screen i.e. glazing at the ground floor and an open area above, then this sense of enclosure should be minimised. The screen will intersect with the capitol detailing formed in render to the reveals of the transept. This was looked at in detail on site to understand the impact of the screen with the capitol. The entire screen should be readily removable at a later date, if required. 7.3, 7.4 The internal doors to the south entrance porch will have glazed sections inserted into the upper panels to allow for the ingress of natural light. This is not considered to have a detrimental impact upon the character. The removal of ten pews and the re-orientation of three pews in the South Aisle to provide a more multi-purpose space is a further drive to make the church a more flexible space. This will obviously create a more open aspect to this part of the church. 7,5 The South or Vicar's Vestry is proposed to be fitted out as a Kitchen with fitted kitchen units and a serving hatch through to the South Nave. The existing walls are to be over­ panelled with plasterboard and painted and the existing door replaced by a fire door. 7.6 The works to the North or Choir Vestry involve the over-boarding of the existing fibreboard walls with plasterboard, the removal of the free standing furniture and fitting of new cupboards and the increase in the size of the Vestry by the removal of the existing partition and the relocation of the door. 7.7 The form of construction i.e. timber stud partitioning covered in fibreboard, suggests that the Vestries are later additions. Internally, the areas affected by these proposals have very little in the way of decorative detailing and certainly nothing of architectural or historic concern in considering these proposals. 7.8 The first three pews are to be removed at the junction of the North Aisle and the Northern Transept to provide an area for wheelchairs. The wooden floorboards are to be sanded and sealed. The pews are very basic, probably stained pine, of littie individual architectural or historic interest. Their removal represents a shift in the way in which worship is taking place. 7.9 7.10 There is little doubt that the works including the creation of a 'welcoming Area' via the insertion of a screen and the removal of the pews will affect the internal character of the church. As stated in the representation from Manx National Heritage, the church was originally designed by \A/e!ch to seat a considerable number of the congregation which unfortunately, is no longer the case. Removal of the pews provides a more multi-disciplinary space, more able to respond to the requirements of modern worship. 12 June 2014 14/00314/CON Page 5 of 7

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Similar applications have been previously approved at St Ninians and Ail Saints in 7.11 Douglas, but it is important to consider each Registered church on its own individual character and merits. 7.12 Applications such as this are a delicate balance between of preserving the architectural and/or historically significant character of the church that was considered special enough to add to the Protected Buildings Register and ensuring an on-going and viable use. It is considered that the proposals are not considerable to have a detrimental impact upon the character of the interior of the Registered Building and in doing so, it is considered that the application conforms to the basis of Strategic Policy 4 and Environment Policies 32 and 34 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan (20th June 2007). It is therefore considered that the impact upon the character and appearance of the interior of the Registered Building would be acceptable. 8. RECOMMENDATION: For the above reasons, the application is considered to be acceptable and is recommended for approval. 9. PARPf STATUS: The local authority Michael Commissioners is, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, paragraph 6 (4) (e), considered an "Interested person" and as such should be afforded interested person status. 10. Manx National Heritage is, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, paragraph 6 (4) (c), considered an "Interested person" and as such should be afforded interested person status. 11. Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted 01.05.2014 Date of Recommendation: Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal O : Notes attached to refusals C 1. The works hereby granted registered building consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this consent. Reason: To comply with paragraph 2(2)(a) of schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented registered building consents. 14/00314/CON Page 6 of 12 June 2014 7

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This approval relates to M Location Plan, Proposed Plan Drawing Number 339 32:2:13, Elevation as Proposed Drawing Number 339 24:1:13, A4 North Vestry Plan, A4 South Vestry Plan, A4 plan entitled Reordering Proposals - areas affected, 6No. Photo Sheets of areas affected by the works. I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to Director of Planning and Building Control /Head of Development Management/ Senior Planning Officer. il.it Decision Made: Permitted Date : Determining officer (delete as appropriate) Signed :... Chris Balmer Senior Planning Officer Signed :... Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control Head of Development Management Signed :... Sarah Corlett Senior Planning Officer Signed :... Jennifer Chance 12 June 2014 14/00314/CON Page 7 of 7