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22/01016/CON Page 1 of 4
PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Application No. : 22/01016/CON Applicant : Aalish Ltd Proposal : Registered Building Consent for the installation of roof mounted solar panels and the erection of a storm porch on the rear elevation - RB 93 (in association with application 22/01017/GB) Site Address : 4 Finch Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 2PT
Registered Buildings Officer: Mr Ross Brazier Photo Taken : Site Visit : Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation
Recommendation
Recommended Decision:
Permitted Date of Recommendation: 29.11.2022 __
Conditions and Notes for Approval
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions
C 1. 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.
C 2. Matching Materials All external facing to be used shall match those of the existing building in respect of type, colour profile and texture.
Reason: To ensure the satisfactory preservation of this registered building.
C 3. Solar Panels For the avoidance of doubt the solar panels hereby approved are required to be integrated solar panels (in-roof solar panels) installed so they run flush with the external roof plane rather than being installed on top of the roof tiles/slates.
Reason: To ensure the satisfactory preservation of this registered building and In the interests of visual amenities of the individual property
C 4. Swift Boxes
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22/01016/CON Page 2 of 4
No development shall commence until the location of the proposed swift boxes to be located under the eaves on the south elevation has been submitted to the Department for approval. The boxes shall be painted to match the surroundings and shall be installed in accordance with the approved details and thereafter maintained in accordance with the approved details.
Reason: To ensure the satisfactory preservation of this registered building.
This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. 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.
Plans/Drawings/Information;
This decision relates to the following: Location Plan: 4594/L1 Site Plan: 4594/S3 Existing Floor plans and Elevations: 4594 43594/EX 1 Proposed floor plans and Elevations: 4594 4594/P1 D Planning statement and all information received on 15.08.22
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Interested Person Status - Additional Persons
None __
Officer’s Report
1.0 THE SITE 1.1 The site is 4 Finch Road, and registered building (RB93). Finch Road stands on land that was at one time known as Finch's Estate, and was laid out in in 1830 for building purposes. Number 4 is one of a series of high status dwellings along the eastern side of Finch Road dating from the 1830s and 1840s, with period features and form that show the architectural style being employed on the island during the period. The properties also illustrate part of the development of Douglas from a small 18th century fishing port through to a bustling Victorian tourist resort and the island's capital. The property is not located within a conservation area.
2.0 THE PROPOSAL 2.1 This application seeks registered building consent registered building consent for the installation of roof mounted solar panels and the erection of a storm porch on the rear elevation.
3.0 PLANNING POLICY 3.1 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1999 S16 Registered buildings: supplementary provisions (3) In considering - (b) whether to grant registered building consent for any works, the relevant Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses.
3.2 National policy: THE ISLE OF MAN STRATEGIC PLAN 2016 Strategic Policy 4 Environment Policy 32 Environment Policy 34
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3.3 Planning Policy Statements: 1/01 Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man POLICY RB/3 POLICY RB/5
4.0 PLANNING HISTORY 4.1 The most recent applications for the site, 16/00583/CON and 16/00599/GB permitted alterations, renovation of front yard area, provision of flat roof over existing void and creation of a new access and 16/00600/CON, registered building consent for the demolition of front area side wall and replace with cast iron matching railings.
5.0 REPRESENTATIONS 5.1 The Department of Infrastructure Highways Division have stated that there is no highways interest in the application (07.09.2022).
5.2 Douglas Borough Council have stated that they have no objections to the application (13.09.2022).
5.3 Manx National Heritage were consulted (31.08.22) but did not comment.
6.0 ASSESSMENT
6.1 The issue here is whether the proposals would preserve the building's special interest.
6.2 The building dates from the mid-19th century, and illustrates the style and form of relatively high status dwellings being built in Douglas during the period. The proposals will introduce the roof mounted solar panels and a storm porch on the rear elevation, alongside this the application will also introduce insulation for energy efficiency into the roof structure.
6.3 The applicant has described and assessed the impact of the proposals upon the registered building. The issues in relation to the introduction of the solar panels and the porch is the visual impact upon the appearance and special interest of the building.
6.4 The buildings principle elevation faces onto the street gable end on with architectural detailing and moulding to this elevation. There is no visible roof pitch to the principle street facing or rear elevation. The roof slopes, given the siting of the building, topography of the street and positioning of adjacent buildings means that the roof slope is visible from the street. The roof slope proposed to house the solar panels will therefore be visible from street view, however given the limited visual impact of the proposals from the principle elevation and the roof slates are of a modern material, it is considered that the harm caused by the limited visual change is outweighed by the benefits of the proposals.
6.5 The storm porch is proposed to provide additional protection to the entrance on the rear elevation, given the change in use of the building and the car parking provisions for the office use, the rear door is used more regularly than when the property was a dwelling house. The design, scale and massing of the porch is sympathetic to the character of the building and is considered acceptable. The application also seeks to introduce insulation to the roof, using breathable materials is the correct approach in a traditional building and is considered acceptable. The applicant also wishes to introduce swift boxes it is considered the visual impact would be minimal if located under the eaves on the south side elevation and is therefore also considered acceptable.
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7.0 CONCLUSION
7.1 The application is considered to be acceptable, in accordance with the relevant Strategic Plan and Planning Policy Statement 1/01 policies and is supported.
8.0 INTERESTED PERSONS STATUS
8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Registered Buildings) Regulations 2013, the following are automatically interested persons: (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent; (b) Manx National Heritage; and (c) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated
8.2. In addition to those above, the Regulation 9(3) requires the Department to decide which persons (if any) who have made representations with respect to the application, should be treated as having sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application to take part in any subsequent proceedings relating to the application. __
I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status.
Decision Made : Permitted
Date: 01.12.2022
Determining officer Signed : C BALMER
Chris Balmer
Principal Planner
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