Planning Statement Change of Use

Specification /Information sheet

PT Associates

design \& project solutions

Project :- Proposed change of use - Exchange House, Douglas

Element of work - Planning statement

The submission is to apply for the change of use for part of the building known as "Exchange house" at 54 - 58 Athol Street, Douglas.

The building is currently offices, which are undergoing a refurbishment internally as and when office suites become available. The area of the building subject to this application is at ground floor to the right of the buildingis viewed form the street. It should be noted that part of this area is currently un-occupied.

On discussions with the planning office - Mr Steven Stanley, it's apparent the building falls in area which has zoning for "predominantly offices". The application relates to only part of the building, at ground floor, where offices are retained above.

As mentioned part of these office spaces are currently unoccupied, and it is apparent that there are a number of similarly vacant office suites in the area. It could be that this is due to market trend, but regardless of reason it is evident that there is a supply greater than the current demand for.

Conversely it is very apparent that there is a dense concentration of office / banking facilities in the area, with very little provision of supplementary services to this use. Refer to drawing PTA -70 -03 that highlights building use in the area.

The proposal is for a coffee shop which would quite probably also serve light refreshments also. The proposal would operate on a "Sit in" and "takeaway" basis offering flexibility. This would be a facility in the heart of the office district which would compliment the operation of the business in the vicinity.

The layout indicated on the proposed drawing (PTA 70 -05) is merely indicative at this stage and would be subject to further detailed design when a tenant / operator would become involved.

Signage for the proposal would be subject to a further application - when more detailed information would be available.

In addition to this application a separate submission is being made for the refurbishment of the external façade. This separate submission acknowledges this change of use application \& has been designed to consider this. Likewise, this application takes account of the façade proposals should they be approved.