Officer Report

Application No.: 17/00491/D Applicant: Age Concern Isle of Man Proposal: Installation of non-illuminated signage over shopfront Site Address: 5 Station Road Port Erin Isle of Man IM9 6AE Case Officer : Mr Edmond Riley Photo Taken: 18.05.2017 Site Visit: 18.05.2017 Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE APPLICATION SITE - 1.1 The application site is the curtilage of an existing building, 5 Station Road which sits on the northern side of Station Road opposite the eastern section of the Falcon's Nest Hotel in Port Erin's Proposed Conservation Area. The site accommodates a shop unit at the front and an older store building at the rear, with the shopfront the focus of this application. - 1.2 The existing shopfront has a single sign running the full width of the unit; the sign is nonilluminated and is coloured predominantly white with the name and logos of the charity (Age Concern) coloured prominently and situated centrally thereon. The sign appears to be manufactured of uPVC.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Express Consent is sought for the installation of a replacement non-illuminated sign and also for the installation of four small vinyls in each of the frontage's picture windows. The large sign would be of the same size as the existing, and would be formed of vinyl printed on aluminium composite board, and is shown coloured red with white lettering ("Age Concern"; "Isle of Man") and a white and green logo to the left. - 2.2 The four vinyls, irregularly shaped and resembling something akin to a 'swish' shape, would be located at the top of each picture window, coloured the same green as that in the main logo on the larger sign.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 The site was the subject of an application that sought to make alterations to the rear storage building last year (PA 16/00494/B). This was approved. - 3.2 Prior to this, Express Consent was issued to PA 87/04032/D, which proposed illuminated signage. As such, the current signage does not appear to have been the subject of an application.

4.0 PLANNING POLICY - 4.1 The site lies within an area of Mixed Use on the Area Plan for the South adopted in 2013 and within the proposed Conservation Area. The site is not mentioned in the Conservation Area appraisal, although the Isle of Man Bank building alongside is identified as being of interest and other buildings to the east are identified as having a negative impact.

17/00491/D Page 1 of 4

4.2 The following Strategic Plan policies are considered relevant to the determination of the application: General Policy 6:

"Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they:

• (a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed;
• (b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and
• (c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard." Environment Policy 37: "As a general policy, advertisements within Conservation Areas will be permitted only if:

• i) the proposal preserves or enhances the Conservation Area;
• ii) the signage is in a style appropriate to the character of the area;
• iii) traditional materials and finishes are used and glossy and highly reflective materials are excluded from proposals; and
• iv) internally illuminated box fascia and projecting box signs are excluded from the proposals."

- 5.0 REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 Department of Infrastructure Highway Services indicate that there is no highway interest in the application (31.05.2017). - 5.2 Port Erin Commissioners resolved to support the application on 11.05.2017.

- 6.0 ASSESSMENT

6.1 The signage proposed here is considered to be an improvement over that currently in situ. While the colour is brighter and more strident, the use of colours and the size / positioning of the lettering and logo are much more subtle. The existing sign is a little busy - though the large expanses of white colouring mean it could not be described as cluttered - whereas that proposed has a neater arrangement. - 6.2 The proposed vinyls are small in size and scale and would provide some welcome interest to the shop frontage.

- 7.0 RECOMMENDATION

7.1 It is concluded that the proposed signage represents an improvement over the existing situation and would comply with General Policy 6 accordingly. Regard has also been had to Environment Policy 37 in reaching this conclusion, though it needs to be remembered that more limited weight can be given to this policy given that the Conservation Area remains unadopted also being mindful of the existing signage in place. - 8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS

8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013, the following persons are automatically interested persons: o The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;

17/00491/D Page 2 of 4

• o 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;
• o Persons to whom notice has been given under Regulation 10(3)(a)(i);
• o Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material;
• o The Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure;
• o The Ports Division of the Department of Infrastructure;
• o The operator of the railway or tramway, and
• o The Local Authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 06.06.2017 Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The advertisement(s) hereby granted consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. Reason: To avoid the accumulation of unimplemented advertisement consents.

The Express Consent hereby issued relates to Drawing 8231-04 date stamped as having been received on 3rd May 2017and the proposed photomontage, date-stamped as having been received 8th May 2017, and also to the letters from the applicant to the Department, date-stamped as having been received 3rd May 2017.

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: 08.06.2017 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.

17/00491/D Page 3 of 4

17/00491/D Page 4 of 4