140557

The Secretary to the Planning Committee Planning & Building Control Division Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture Murray House Mount Havelock DOUGLAS

1st August 2016

Dear Madam

TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1999

TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING (DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE)(No 2) ORDER 2013

PLANNING APPLICATION 16/00711/B

REFURBISHMENT AND EXTENSION OF EXISTING OFFICE CELTIC HOUSE VICTORIA STREET DOUGLAS ISLE OF MAN IM1 2LR

The above planning application was placed before the Environmental Services Committee of Douglas Borough Council at its meeting held on the 18th July 2016.

I would advise that the Committee agreed that the Council should support the application but it would prefer to see a more active, animated façade at ground floor level.

In reaching it decision the Committee considered a report which had been compiled in relation to the application.

In order to give a more comprehensive explanation of the Committee's decision the following is the assessment considered during the meeting:-

P.O. BOX NO. 2, TOWN HALL, RIDGEWAY STREET, DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN, IM99 1AD TELEPHONE: (01624) 696300

Assessment

The internal refurbishment and the addition of the mezzanine at the fifth floor level do not appear to be contentious. The changes make better use of the internal space and modernises a dated building, and therefore are worthy of support.

The proposed scale and massing of the building is considered acceptable in relation to its impact on the overall street scene. The rear elevation is currently very bland as it was no doubt originally expected not to be very visible due to developments at the rear. The rear elevation is considered therefore to be a considerable improvement on the existing and the use of the Corten steel adds considerable architectural interest.

The proposed front elevation is also considered to be an improvement as the existing elevation is of limited architectural merit and appears dated. Moving the entrance to the centre of the façade is welcomed as is the visual interest provided by the balcony. High quality materials are proposed and the vertical emphasis echoes that of Royal Bank House opposite. However, the front elevation is considered rather bland at ground floor level and will do little to animate the street scene.

In terms of car parking provision, the development is served by 18 car parking spaces at the rear of the building. It is not possible to provide further car parking spaces on site. The additional internal accommodation created consists of a kitchen and boardroom rather than office accommodation. It can be argued that the removal of office accommodation at ground floor level in order to provide a larger reception area compensates for the additional accommodation on the uppermost level.

Yours faithfully,

Nichlos S. K.

N J Kaighin

Building Control Manager

Direct Line: 01624 696376 E mail: [email protected]