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Application No.: 15/01393/CON Applicant: Douglas Borough Council Proposal: Registered Building Consent for the installation of additional timber panelling to Council Chamber (Registered Building no 169) Site Address: Town Hall Ridgeway Street Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EP Case Officer : Miss Abigail Morgan Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation
1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The application site represents the curtilage of Town Hall (Douglas Borough Council). The application site is located within Athol St/Victoria St Conservation Area. The building is Registered Building 169 by virtue of its aesthetic and historical interest.
2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 The application is for registered building consent for internal alterations to the Council Chamber with the addition of a row of panels either side of the fireplace on the West Wall. This would increase the number of rows from four to five to allow space for additional future photographs. - 2.2 All new timber to be French oak to be stained to match the existing. This is proposed to be done on site to achieve the best match. - 2.3 To maintain existing appearance the top row and cornice is to be moved one row up to allow the new row to be inserted. Details of cornice have been provided should a new one be required. However they are attempting to re-use existing as much as possible.
3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 There have been a number of previous planning applications, particularly for internal alterations which were considered acceptable.
08/01825/CON - Registered Building consent for internal alterations to fittings and escape staircase from the first floor council chamber. Registered Building Nos. 169 - Permitted
4.0 PLANNING STATUS - 4.1 As the proposals are wholly within the building the relevant policies are; - 4.2 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." - 4.3 Environment Policy 34 states: "In the maintenance, alteration or extension of pre-1920 buildings, the use of traditional materials will be preferred." - 4.4 Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man sets down the policies in relation to the conservation of the built environment of the Isle of Man, including policy for the identification and protection of historic buildings, conservation areas and other elements of the environment. This policy statement contains one policy that is considered specifically material to the assessment of this planning application: - 4.5 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 general 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 effect upon the building's special interest as a result of several minor works which may individually seem of little consequence."
5.0 REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Douglas Borough Council, no objection. 21.01.2016. - 5.2 IOM Newspapers have requested to be kept informed of the application.
6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The application is for internal works in the Council Chamber the registration whilst referring to this room in 1900 as 'magnificent room… which has an arched roof with panelled ceiling. The floor is laid in Oak which also used for the wainscoting and the Ardron mantelpiece.' During the life of the building various alterations have taken place many of which have taken place as a result of
7.0 PARTY STATUS - 7.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Registered Buildings) Regulations 2013, the following are automatically interested persons:
7.2 In addition to those above, the Regulation 9(3) requires the Department to decide which persons (if any) who have made representations with respect to the application, should be treated as having sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application to take part in any subsequent proceedings relating to the application. - 7.3 With effect from 1 June 2015, the Transfer of Planning & Building Control Functions Order 2015 amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 to give effect to the meaning of the word 'Department' to be the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture unless otherwise directed by that Order.
Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 25.04.2016 Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions 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.
This approval relates to drawings 01 and 02 and 1/3200, Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Contractors Method Statement all date stamp as received 22 December 2016.
I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Interim Director of Planning and Building Control in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.
Decision Made : Permitted Date : 06.05.2016 Determining officer
Signed : J CHANCE Jennifer Chance Interim Director of Planning and Building Control
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