Carrera Digital Planning Statement

10 August 2016

Planning and Building Control Directorate, Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SF

Dear Sirs,

44 Strand Street, Douglas.

Please find enclosed an Application for Express Consent relevant to the above property together with all the required supporting documentation as to four copies of:

• Application Form
• Supporting plans and attachments
• Product information
• Location Plan
• Site Plan
• Scaled as required
• Fee enclosed
• Certificate of Land Ownership
• Letter from Holiday Owners Ltd.

We also attach 4 copies of a paper entitled 'UK Guidance for LED Signage' operative within the United Kingdom. Whilst we are aware of the standard conditions that are prescribed in Schedule 1 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013 and ensure compliance with these at all times our company refers to these UK Guidelines in respect of technical output/standards where appropriate.

Paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999, as amended by Schedule 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013, governs the issue of advertisement enforcement notices. This sets out the time limit in respect of issuing enforcement notices relative to an advertisement.

The framework and sign at this property has been in situ for longer than 4 years and no Notice has been issued against it. In this respect therefore we believe this application for the installation of a digital screen for advertising on this property location to be lawful.

Our understanding is that in terms of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan General Policy 2(1) and General Policy 6 it is a well-established principle that every planning application should be assessed upon its individual merits. The TCP (C of A) Regulations 2013 gives the power for determination; Clause 5 of these Regulations makes clear the grounds upon which these may be exercised.

We believe that this application passes the tests set out in Clause 5 in all respects. It meets or will meet the standard conditions of Schedule 1. We believe this application for Express Consent, if determined favourably, will enhance amenity and not adversely alter public safety.

GP6 and GP7 within the Isle of Man Strategic Plan are relevant to this application. In these respects we would make the following observations for consideration;

1. These screens utilise the most modern technology both in terms of their manufacture and their display media. They are, therefore much more resistant to time and weathering than traditional older and less technologically advanced installations.

1. This installation, in this location, will have no detrimental effect upon the highway (Howard Street) or traffic usage. Strand Street, from which this will be mainly visible, is of course pedestrianised.

1. We note that General Policy 7 is not written in absolute terms and that each application shall be considered upon its merits. The merits of this application are spelled out by Holiday Owners Ltd, the freehold owner of the subject property, in their letter which is enclosed.

1. Gable ends of buildings can often sink into a poor state of repair as they are not deemed to have commercial value in comparison with, say, the main frontage of a property. The installation of a state of the art, digital LED advertising screen creates commercial value and, being modern, bright, clean and attractive, enhance overall streetscape and the building without detriment to visual amenity or highway safety.

1. Digital signage, with multiple messages displayed on a single screen, eliminates the risks of proliferation and visual clutter present with static poster type advertisements, single message vehicles.

1. A single Digital screen will contain any risk of multiple signage.

1. A single location can display a number of messages for different businesses and there would be no competition for attention, each message being displayed for 15 seconds.

There is existing evidence now of how our screens operate, how attractive they are to advertisers and how they do not in any way impinge upon public safety, lessen amenity values or create traffic hazard. Indeed they make a valuable contribution to the economics of both individual businesses, the properties themselves by brightening up often disused redundant elements of a town centre building, and to the island economy overall.

Yours faithfully,

Tim Groves BA (Hons) MRICS CPEA Director – for and on behalf of Carrera Digital Ltd t/a Billboards.im

Directors: T S R Groves BA(Hons) MRICS CPEA & H A O'Reilly Company Number: 128472C Bank Farmhouse, Peel Road, Kirk Michael, IM6 1 AP, Telephone: 07624 456686

Holiday Owners Ltd

Mr T Groves Carrera Digital Ltd Berk Farmhouse, Peel Rd. Kirk Michael, IM6 1AP

1600949

11 AUG 2016

Dear Mr Groves, As the owner of 44 Strand St., on one hand via Holiday Owners Ltd and the tenant on the other hand via Richmond Travel, I am about to start a refurbishment programme to the exterior of the building.

A two phases project, with phase one starting in mid-September 2016, where all windows (13) above the ground floor will be replaced, the gable facing the promenade will be re rendered, roof maintenance and a complete re paint. Phase two will be subject to planning permission but will see the replacement of the main entrance to the building and new ground floor windows. We hope this work will take place in spring 2017 if successful with planning. We believe this significant investment will lift this strategically located and important building and contribute to an improved streetscape for the main shopping area of Douglas.

There has for perhaps as much as 100 years been a billboard on the side gable of the building facing south down Strand St towards Marks & Spencer. It was clearly seen even then as a great advertising space and opportunity. We have some years ago used the same position to advertise travel products. My travel business did vacate the building for a period of 9 years but we relocated to the building in January 2016 looking to contribute to increasing confidence in Strand Street.

We now have the opportunity to use this advertising opportunity again to promote travel products by utilising today's digital technology. A unique opportunity to market my company and a number of selected businesses which will bring an economic boost as a result and increased exposure to those businesses with improved recognition, all to the benefit of business generally.

I look forward to hearing from you with I hope some positive news and a successful outcome to your planning application.

Yours faithfully,

Brian M Kelly Chairman

Directors Brian M Kelly, Hollie J Kelly 14 Athol St, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1JA Telephone 01624 628574 Fax 01624 676901