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The bow of the ' $A$ ' frames is clear to see with the metal shackles also dis-jointed denoting that repair is required. The internal dampness is also clearly evident
The original gable end widow has been partially blocked up to fit a modern ceiling. The height and position of the window suggests a full height ceiling level was part of the original design
Decorative windows either side of the entrance have been blocked up with the inclusion of the modern front extension
The proposal from the Applicant is to convert the existing building into a 4-bedroom house for their own living purposes as well as that of their family. 'The Sunday School' connection to the former Laxey Methodist Church has become redundant since the latter was converted into residential accommodation now known as 'Palladian House'. The two buildings differ in the age of their design and construction, however the re-use and conversion appear to have similarities.
Taking advantage of the building's high ceilings the creation of a second storey grants the separation required in modern living without having to extend outwards. The Ground Floor of 'The Sunday School' aloneis insufficient to create modern accommodation without losing the space above. 'Palladian House' is the most relevant precedent for the Applicant's proposal as it not only re-uses an existing building but it also maintains and improves its external appearance.
The Applicant has sought Approval to remove trees that are affecting the building in terms of their intrusion into the stonework, whilst also exposing this unique building to the passing public. The main features of the front of the building are to be maintained and painted white and a light grey to give the building a cleaner appearance rather than its existing untreated state.
The front garage style door is to be removed and a more relevant arched door is to be put in its place, giving some connection to the style of arch in the front gable window, whilst a conservation style roof light will provide natural daylight into the proposed entrance hall.
The low-level garden wall adjoining the semi-private road to the side of the property will be partially opened up to provide space for 2 no. parking spaces to alleviate on street parking which is commonplace along Glen Road. The front and part of the side elevation of the garden wall will remain intact. With low volumes of traffic through this area and a low level wall safe ingress \& egress (with the correct visibility splays) is established.
The existing side extension in its state of disrepair is unsightly, impractical and out of context considering its material and roof aesthetic, therefore the proposal is to rebuild this and extend it to the boundary edge to create a useable workshop, boiler store and fire escapes from Ground \& First Floor. This portion is set at the rear of the site and proposing similar finishes to the existing front entrance to give it some context to the building. The use of rendered quoins match those of the existing front elevation detail with the addition of the render bands around the windows and doors linking the extensions to the new protruding high windows to the side elevation dormers.
The dormers elevate the windows to a higher level to allow light to penetrate the First Floor open-plan living area whilst maintaining the existing window width of the original 'Sunday School'. The roof materials, finials and wall extension are designed to match the existing materials and provide a dormer to make the first floor more practical, allow more light into the building and elongate the windows in a similar fashion to which they were designed in a modern but sympathetic fashion. The use of dormers is common along Glen Road, however the use here is to emphasise the modernisation and re-invention of the building following a number of years of neglect.
The conversion and renovation of the building maintains and improves its front facing features, however the sides and rear annex have been modernised to establish its proposed use
Typically, internally the ground floor is going to house the bedrooms so the First Floor can be supported by its partitioned structure as well as take advantage of the vaulted form as a feature of the original building to create an open-plan living space.
The Internal vaulted ceilings and proposed windows are designed to match the height of the main gable window to create a modern space
The neglect of the existing building appears to have derived from the migration of Laxey Methodist Chapel which has shifted the requirement of its use elsewhere and left the building redundant. If we factor in the similar renovation of 'Palladian house' into this discussion, we can determine that there has been little interest to re-instate this building back to its former use and that similar construction has been converted to suit the main trends in the area which is currently residential accommodation.
The proposal site suffers from a lack of parking and amenities to which it was never intended to accommodate in more modern times, therefore its conversion and re-invention requires other avenues which it needs to follow. The Applicant's intentions are to preserve as many features as possible of the building, whilst creating a family home that can bring this building back to life with modern damp-proof protective measures and insulation.
The Strategic Plan 2015 lays reference to Policies which are relevant to this Application and these have been noted in the following paragraphs:
In terms of reference to conversion and renovation of 'the Sunday School' in Laxey, the proposed site adheres to Strategic Policies $1 \& 4$ where the re-use of existing buildings is encouraged with sympathetic use of materials and building fabric. This is set out under both policies, below.
Development should make the best use of resources by: (a) optimising the use of previously developed land, redundant buildings, unused and under-used land and buildings, and re-using scarce indigenous building materials; (b) ensuring efficient use of sites, taking into account the needs for access, landscaping, open space and amenity standards; and (c) being located so as to utilise existing and planned infrastructure, facilities and services.'
Proposals for development must: (a) Protect or enhance the fabric and setting of Ancient Monuments, Registered Buildings, Conservation Areas, buildings and structures within National Heritage Areas and sites of archaeological interest; (b) protect or enhance the landscape quality and nature conservation value of urban as well as rural areas but especially in respect to development adjacent to Areas of Special Scientific Interest and other designations
The proposal site is within a Conservation Area and specific thought and design have gone into retaining the existing features, matching the existing materials and linking portions of the building together to make a modern design, insulating and protecting the building from the elements and the neglect that it has experienced.
Although some modern additions have been added, these have been subtle, working to enhance the scheme and re-use the building.
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