5 November 2021 · Planning Committee
Sulby Chapel, Main Road, Sulby, Isle Of Man, IM7 2hp
The proposal involves internal works to the Edwardian Methodist chapel at Sulby Methodist Church on Main Road, Sulby, a Registered Building (No. 172) built in 1912-13 with arts and crafts stained glass features.
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The officer assessed whether the internal works would preserve the registered building's special architectural or historic interest per Town and Country Planning Act 1999 s16(3) and policies RB/3, RB/…
RB/3 General Criteria Applied in Considering Registered Building Applications
Requires consideration of building's importance, physical features justifying registration, and setting. Officer applied this to assess pews as standard with limited interest and internal changes as having limited impact on special features like stained glass and pulpit.
RB/5 Alterations and Extensions
Presumption against alterations affecting special character unless justified by need and limited impact. Applicant provided statement of significance and need; officer found harm limited and outweighed by benefits, with no cumulative effect from prior minor works.
RB/10 Ecclesiastical Buildings
Applies same provisions as other registered buildings, acknowledging modern congregation needs. Officer noted changes justified for contemporary use without markedly affecting historic merit or character.
Time limit
The works hereby granted registered building consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this consent. Reason: To comply with paragraph 2(2)(a) of schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented registered building consents.
Photographic Survey
No development shall commence until a full and comprehensive photographic survey of the ground floor has been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Department. Reason: In order to retain a record of the site in the interests of local history.
Details of Works to Registered Building
Prior to the commencement of each phase of work, No works shall take place on those elements listed below until details of the following items, as agreed following consultation with the Registered Buildings Officer have been submitted to and approved in writing by, the Department: a) Final method statement for new floor construction b) Proposed new floor finishes c) Proposed M &E servicing including any proposed new extraction or ventilation details d) Repair methodology for entrance screen and stained glass windows The works shall not be carried out unless in accordance with the approved details. Reason: To ensure the satisfactory preservation of this registered building.
no Highways interest in the application
Lezayre Parish Commissioners objected unanimously to the application due to concerns over loss of internal integrity and craftsmanship in the historic church. Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society also objected to removal of potentially raked pews, while DOI Highways had no interest.
Key concern: removal of raked pews and internal changes ruining the integrity and craftsmanship of the historic Methodist church
Lezayre Parish Commissioners
ObjectionRefused Unanimous - The Commissioners believe that any changes to the internals of the church (Main congregation area) would ruin the integrity of the building and also be detrimental to the building. The craftsmanship within the church would be lost forever.
Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society
ObjectionIf the proposal does involve the total removal of raked pews then Isle of Man Natural History & Antiquarian Society objects to this application.; this is an extremely important and rare feature amongst surviving Methodist churches on the Island as a whole, not just the north.
Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Division
No ObjectionNo Highways Interest
