2 December 2022 · Delegated - Principal Planner (Jason Singleton)
Douglas Castle, Fort Anne Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 5bn
The proposal involves excavating into the sloping hillside within the grounds of Harold Tower, a mid-19th century Romantic Gothick style villa and registered building (No. 179), to create an underground garage.
Click a button above to find applications similar to this one.
See how this application compares to similar ones — policies, conditions, and outcomes side by side.
The proposals are considered to be in accordance with the Strategic Plan policies, Policies RB/3 and RB/5 of Planning Policy Statement 1/01 and are acceptable.
RB/3 General Criteria Applied in Considering Registered Building Applications
Policy RB/3 relates to the conservation of registered buildings. The officer assessed that the underground garage has minimal visual impact, being incorporated into the hillside and covered with turf, with the retaining wall minimally changed, preserving the building's form and detail. Conditions ensure materials match the existing building.
RB/5 Alterations and Extensions
Policy RB/5 concerns the setting of registered buildings. The proposal was found acceptable as it results in minimal change to the bankside retaining wall and no impact on appreciation of the building's architecture, supported by material matching conditions.
Strategic Policy 4
Part of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. Assessed as compliant in the overall conclusion supporting the proposal.
General Policy 2
Part of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. The proposal complies as part of the strategic policies deemed in accordance.
Environment Policy 32
Part of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. Included in policy assessment with no specific issues raised.
Environment Policy 33
Part of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. Included in policy assessment with no specific issues raised.
Environment Policy 34
Part of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, relevant to landscaping. Tree replacement condition ensures appropriate landscape setting.
Time limit
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice. Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.
Materials sample panel
No development shall commence until a sample panel of all external facing materials to be used has been erected on site and approved in writing by the Department. The approved sample panel shall be kept on site for reference until the development is completed. The development shall not be carried out unless in accordance with the approved details. Reason: To ensure the satisfactory preservation of this registered building.
Materials matching
All external facing materials to be used shall match those of the existing building in respect of type, size, colour, bond, pointing, coursing, jointing, profile and texture. Reason: To ensure the satisfactory preservation of this registered building.
Tree planting
Within the first planting season of the proposed garaging coming into operation two trees as shown on Proposed Site Plan and Elevations 1:100 P-01 shall be planted using native species and retained thereafter. Any trees indicated on the approved scheme which, within a period of five years from the date of planting, die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced during the next planting season with other trees or plants of a species and size to be first approved in writing by the Department. Reason: To ensure the provision of an appropriate landscape setting to the development.
no objections
the proposal raises no significant road safety or highway network efficiency issues. Accordingly, Highway Services Development Control raises no objection
verbal communication officers were satisfied that two replacement trees would be planted
Douglas Borough Council and DOI Highways Development Control both raised no objections to the creation of an underground garage at Harold Tower, Fort Anne Road, Douglas.
Douglas Borough Council
No ObjectionDouglas Borough Council has no objections.
DOI Highways Development Control
No ObjectionThe proposal raises no significant road safety or highway network efficiency issues. Accordingly, Highway Services Development Control raises no objection to the proposal.; Recommendation: DNO; The applicant should consider providing an electric vehicle charging point in order to support the islands sustainable transport objectives.
