Loading document...
==== PAGE 1 ====
17/00114/C
Page 1 of 3
PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Application No. : 17/00114/C Applicant : Revd James McGowan Proposal : Additional use of building as tourist accommodation Site Address : The Old School Room St Marks Ballasalla Isle Of Man IM9 3AH
Case Officer : Miss S E Corlett Photo Taken : 23.02.2017 Site Visit : 23.02.2017 Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation
Officer’s Report
THE SITE 1.1 The site is the curtilage of St. Mark's School, a semi-detached building attached to the Old School House which is in separate ownership. To the south lies St. Mark's Church which is in the same ownership as the application site.
1.2 The site has planning approval for conversion to a dwelling (13/00908GB/13/00909/CON) and whilst the conversion work has been done, the church has no immediate plans to use it as a house and continues to use it as a community/parish hall.
1.3 The building is an interesting single storey structure with the School House alongside being a two storey building but both with substantial chimneys, slated roofing and rendered walling and the application building benefitting from a stone front porch.
1.4 The building has no on-site parking but there is plenty of on-street space for the parking of vehicles alongside the church grounds on the same side of the road.
THE PROPOSAL 2.1 Proposed is the additional use of the premises as a bunkhouse for small groups who visit the area in the summer months. The additional income subsidises the running costs of the hall and they intend to register the premises with Department of Economic Development Tourism Division. The additional use will also bring greater likelihood that the community hall can continue to function as such, with the additional income it brings with it.
2.2 There is no intention to use the hall permanently for this purpose although no specific periods of time have been indicated. No changes to the building are proposed.
PLANNING POLICY 3.1 The building is Registered (RB181) and the site lies within the St. Mark's Conservation Area. The site and the School House alongside are referred to variously within the Character Appraisal, explaining that the buildings were constructed in 1843 and it states that a community use of the application building is likely to help retain the special sense of local identity which still exists within the village.
3.2 The site is designated as Open Space and whilst the Character Appraisal implies that some sensitively sited dwellings may need local housing need, the Area Plan makes it quite clear that this
==== PAGE 2 ====
17/00114/C
Page 2 of 3
will not occur until further detailed investigation has been undertaken by the Conservation Section of the Department.
PLANNING HISTORY 4.1 The most relevant previous applications are listed above.
REPRESENTATIONS 5.1 Department of Infrastructure Highway Services indicate that they have no objection to the proposal as the highway implications from the use of the building will not change significantly from the present situation (03.03.17).
5.2 Malew Parish Commissioners have no objection to the application (03.03.17).
ASSESSMENT 6.1 There are no works involved in the proposed additional use and whilst the proposed use as a bunkhouse will inevitably involve groups of people using the building, this is not inconsistent with the use of the building as a community hall, the main difference being the timing of the visits with visitors being on site all through the night whereas community uses tend to be day time and evening use. That said, the building has permission for use as a residence which would involve 24 hour a day occupation. The applicant indicates that they have used the site for this purpose but there have been no complaints to this effect from anyone in neighbouring property.
6.2 There is ample space on the highway to accommodate the vehicles associated with the proposed use and as such the application is recommended for approval.
PARTY STATUS 7.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, the following persons are automatically interested persons: (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent; (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested; (c) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material (d) Highway Services Division of Department of Infrastructure and (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.
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: 14.03.2017
Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions
C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
==== PAGE 3 ====
17/00114/C
Page 3 of 3
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.
C 2. This approval allows the premises to be used as a community hall, private dwelling or for overnight accommodation by groups of visitors.
Reason: to clarify the status of the premises.
This decision relates to drawings 13/2405/01, 13/2405/02 and the site/location plan all received on 2nd February, 2016.
I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Senior Planning Officer in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.
Decision Made : Permitted
Date: 20.03.2017
Determining officer
Signed : C BALMER
Chris Balmer
Senior Planning Officer
Customer note
This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the file copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online services/customers and archive records.
Copyright in submitted documents remains with their authors. Request removal