Application by Department of Infrastructure, Properties Division for Erection of Illuminated Signage, Sea Terminal Building, Victoria Pier, Douglas IM1 2BZ

Site visit Monday 25 June 2012.

Preamble

1. The application was referred to the Council of Ministers in accordance with Section 10 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005 as the applicant is a Division of the Department of Infrastructure.

Site and Development

2. The Sea Terminal is likely to be familiar to those reading this report: a contemporary, sizeable, distinctive, essentially three-sided building serving Douglas Harbour. It features two variable message illuminated electronic signs; these scroll through displays including a welcome message, information for travellers and also opening hours for two businesses within the terminal. The businesses are a coffee shop (Costa) and a retailer (W H Smith). Elsewhere on the building are static signs directly relating to its sea terminal function and signs, two on the front and one on each side, advertising the coffee shop. These non-illuminated signs are white on red in that company's house style and were approved under 11/00857/D. One would be removed from the front elevation and three static signs added, one on each elevation, in the retailer's house style of white on blue. The proposed signs would be 2.43 m wide by 0.6 m deep, powder-coated aluminum with acrylic text and externally illuminated by fluorescent tubes.

Representations

3. There is one representation on file, a statement by the Planning Officer setting out background information, including relevant planning policies, planning history and suggested conditions were permission to be given, but purposely omitting anything touching on the merits of the application.

Planning Policy

4. The Douglas Local Plan¹ designates this location as an Area of Buildings for Civic, Cultural and Other Special Use - Harbour Related Use. It also forms part of The Douglas Promenades Conservation Area 2002. The Strategic Plan² General Policy 6 is favourable to the display of external advertisements on a town building "to which they relate provided they: a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed; b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard." Environment Policy 37 states that "As a general policy, advertisements within Conservation Areas will be permitted only if: i) the proposal preserves or enhances the Conservation Area; ii) the signage is in a style appropriate to the character of the area; iii) traditional materials and finishes are used and glossy and highly reflective materials are excluded from proposals; and iv) internally illuminated box fascia and projecting box signs are excluded from the proposals."

Assessment

5. There is no basis on which the proposals could compromise road safety and unsurprisingly Highways Division has made no comment. The issue is the impact on visual amenity, both in a general sense and having particular regard to the Conservation Area.

6. The Sea Terminal is a landmark gateway for travellers to and from the Island. Its electronic variable signs are eye-catching both for their inherent brightness and

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¹ The Isle of Man Planning Scheme (Douglas Local Plan) Order Map No 1 (Central Area)

² The Isle of Man Strategic Plan: Towards a Sustainable Island 2007

CSO Reference DF12/0012 Application No 12/00504/D Inspector's report

because the content changes regularly. Those aside, the remaining signage is subordinate to the building, and although intentionally clearly visible it occupies only a tiny proportion of the building's elevations. The individual signs are also in size and proportions very much in scale with the building's distinctive modular panel construction. The proposed signs would similarly respect the building's underlying architecture and these too would relate directly to a service available within the terminal that complements its primary function as a transport terminal. There would be no net increase in signage on the front elevation, where one of the existing signs would be displaced, and a barely perceptible increase in the context of each of the lengthy side elevations. In all the particular circumstances here, external illumination of the faces of these modest sized signs would not be out of place or out of character on this busy functional building.

7. There would be minimal change in the overall appearance of the Sea Terminal and its character would be unchanged. I consider that there would be no material harm to visual amenity and that the character and the overall appearance of the Conservation Area would each be preserved. All told I consider that the proposal complies with General Policy 6 and Environment Policy 37.

Recommendations

B. I recommend that the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
2. This permission relates to the erection of illuminated signage, Sea Terminal Building, Victoria Pier, Douglas as shown by drawings 001, 002, 003 and 004 and received and date stamped by Planning Division on 23rd April 2012.

Alan Langton Inspector