15 January 2016 · Delegated - Senior Planning Officer Sarah Corlett
Garage, 37a, Hope Street, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 1ar
The site is an existing single-storey flat-roofed brick building, previously used as a garage/workshop/store, located in an area zoned for predominantly office use within Douglas town centre. The proposal involves minor alterations including new windows, doors, and rendering to improve the front elevation, a new pedest…
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The principal issues were the principle of retail use on a site zoned for predominantly office use and impacts on visual amenities.
new retail provision at a scale appropriate. Major retail development proposals to be supported by Retail Impact Assessment
Business Policy 9 supports new retail provision in existing retail areas at a scale appropriate to the area without adverse effects on adjacent retail, with major proposals needing a Retail Impact Assessment. The officer applied this to the town centre location and modest scale, finding no adverse impact despite office zoning. The small showroom size meant no Retail Impact Assessment was required.
Business Policy 10
Business Policy 10 permits retail only in established town and village centres, with exceptions for neighbourhood shops or as per Business Policy 5. The site in Douglas town centre satisfied this test, overriding the office zoning given the existing building's characteristics and proposal scale.
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 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No2) Order 2013 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.
External finishes
Prior to the occupation of the unit the external finishes and alterations as shown on drawing 1327.2 are required to be completed and retained thereafter. Reason: In the interest of visual amenities of the area.
Shutter door painting
The new shutter door to the front elevation as shown on drawing 1327.2 is required to be painted a prime colour within one month of the operation of the business and retained thereafter. Reason: In the interest of visual amenities of the area.
supported the application
do not oppose but require minimum pedestrian visibility of 2.1 x 2.1m from proposed access
Douglas Borough Council has no objection to the proposal. DOI Highways do not oppose subject to a condition for minimum pedestrian visibility at the proposed access.
Douglas Borough Council
No ObjectionDouglas Borough Council has no objection to the proposals.
DOI Highways
Conditional No ObjectionDo not oppose with condition/comment; DNOC on 15.12.15
Conditions requested: Minimum pedestrian visibility must be provided 2.1 x 2.1 from proposed access
