Design Statement 1111/X/DS/01A

Richmond Square

Decision
Appeal

DESIGN

Design Statement

1111

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The Ny Strooan

Hillberry Green, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 6DE

1111/X/DS/01A

02nd April 2012

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Received

DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING and BUILDING CONTROL DIVISION Town and Country Planning, Inc. 1999

1.0 Introduction

This application is for the erection of a private in-door tennis court within the grounds of Thie ny Strooan, Hillberry Green, Douglas.

A topographical survey has been carried out on the site along with a partial tree survey to the areas involved with the development and are included as part of this application.

Planning History and Consultations

We are unaware of any previous applications pertaining to this area of the site. An application for the refurbishment of the main house has recently been approved. $12 / 00021 / B$.

Pre-planning consultations have taken place with Planning Officers Mr Anthony Holmes and Mr Steven Stanley.

Mr Doug Chalk of the Forestry Division was consulted on site in regard to the proposed removal of trees and intended replacement and replanting of trees. Following this meeting and based on Mr Chalk's advise, the siting of the proposal was evaluated to ensure the protection of the registered trees on the site. E-mail correspondence in regard to the same is included with this application for information.

Ms Andrea Georgeson from the Highways Division was consulted regarding the proposed vehicular access to the site and required visibility splays. The positioning of a new vehicular opening was discussed and agreed for service and emergency access only once the existing entrance is blocked up. E-mail correspondence confirming the same is included with this application for information.

Consultations also took place with the adjoining neighbours where the possibility of the banking being shaped to improve the visibility of their existing access as illustrated on drawing 1111 P 003.

2.0 Proposal

The proposed tennis court and gymnasium facilities are intended for private use only by the owner's and invited guests of Thie ny Strooan. By separating these additional leisure facilities from the main house maximises the potential of the large site.

Access to the building is intended to be pedestrian access only from the grounds of the main house. Due to the existing fall of the land between the house and the intended location of the tennis court, a timber bridge and walkway is intended to be incorporated into the landscaping scheme to allow easy and direct access from the house. There are a number of existing footpaths through the mature gardens which are intended to be retained and complemented by this timber walkway and bridge. Emergency vehicular ingress and maintenance access to the site is accommodated by the existing gateway off the Mountain Road running parallel to the site.

The proposed materials for the building have been selected from a natural palette of timbers and Manx stone intended to age well with time and are a direct response to the mature, private woodland setting. The natural timber boards are intended to be a combination of timber from St John's Saw Mills and a contrasting timber, such as teak which is intended to provide visual contrast in their colouring as well as by the direction of the boards.

The scale of the building has been dictated by its purpose; internally, a central height of 11.5 m is required to accommodate the arc of a tennis ball in play. The retractable roof structure of the proposal is intended to be a light frame glass/polycarbonate construction which is intended to be concealed from view behind the parapet wall of the building.

A number of secondary and smaller trees are intended to be removed from the site. The remaining trees are proposed to be supplemented by mature specimens to ensure that the character of the area and site is retained. In particular, a line of mature trees are intended to be planted along the boundary edge and existing wall to provide natural screening to the neighbouring properties. Likewise, additional planting is intended along the existing roadside banking to provide screening from the public viewpoint. These are accordingly illustrated on drawing 1111 P 003.