15 October 2019 · Minister (via Policy & Strategy meeting), formalised by Director of Planning & Building Control (Mrs C Dudley pp Jennifer Chance)
Coalyard And Premises, 33, West Quay, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 1dd
Shearwater Properties Limited applied to remove the former Farmers' Combine Warehouse, a mid-19th century stone-built warehouse on West Quay in Ramsey, from the Protected Buildings Register under the Town and Country Planning (Registered Buildings) Regulations 2013.
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The Department assessed the application against Section 14 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and DEFA's Operational Policy on Principles of Selection for Registered Buildings, which require sp…
Town and Country Planning Act 1999 Section 14
Requires consideration of special architectural or historic interest for registration/de-registration. Officer applied high national threshold; building's alterations/deterioration meant it failed despite some retained features and local rarity. Tension between local (rarity as last warehouse) vs national context resolved against retention.
Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man
Guides assessment of age/rarity (selectivity post-1860), architectural/aesthetic merits, historic interest, etc. Building's mid-19thC functional design, loss of fabric via render/alterations, and poor aesthetics failed tests; Isle of Man's unique context considered but insufficient for special interest.
DEFA Operational Policy on Principles of Selection for Registration of Buildings
Defines architectural interest (design/craftsmanship, building types) and historic interest (national social/economic illustration via fabric). State of repair explicitly immaterial; building's vernacular survival weighed against alterations/fragmentary machinery, lacking national specialness. BWB report key in reassessment.
Reconfirmed no support for registration; building has no integrity, no future viable purpose, no historic merit following review of BWB report
No highway interest
Building is eyesore, beyond repair, vermin-infested; hinders brownfield regeneration and job-creating development
Public representations and heritage bodies strongly object to de-registration of the former Farmers Combine Warehouse due to its architectural and historic significance, while Ramsey Town Commissioners support de-registration and Manx National Heritage supports retention.
Key concern: loss of rare surviving unaltered 19th-century warehouse with unique architectural and hoist features central to Ramsey's historic quay development
Patricia Newton
Objection"I therefore would wish to lodge my objection to this application to de-register this building."; "Nil amante difficile - Where there's a will there's a way"
Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society (IoMNHAS)
Objection"The Isle of Man Natural History & Antiquarian Society thoroughly OBJECTS to this application to Deregister No 33 West Quay, Ramsey."; "Registration is about the history and architecture of a property not its condition or the economics of repairing it."
Manx National Heritage (MNH)
Support"Manx National Heritage fully supports the Department's decision to register this property."; "Its survival to date enhances the distinctive historical and architectural character of the Ramsey quayside."
Ramsey Town Commissioners
Objectionthe Commission have agreed unanimously to withdraw their support for the proposed Registration of the Building.
Manx National Heritage (MNH) - Edmund Southworth
Objection"Registration is the correct route."; "Planning legislation should not 'reward' owners who neglect their properties."
Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Division
No CommentNo Highways Interest
Ballachurry Farm (Redacted)
ObjectionOld buildings like this that have stood the test of time should be renovated and preserved for future generations.
The original application (19/00235/CON) sought de-registration of the mid-19th century warehouse at 33 West Quay, Ramsey, recently registered (RB293) due to its special architectural and historic interest related to Ramsey's quay expansion. Appellant Shearwater Properties argued the building lacks special interest due to alterations, poor condition, and low national significance, supported by BWB heritage reports and GSA structural appraisals. DEFA's Director recommended refusal, citing retained historic and architectural value despite condition (not a material factor), but the Minister approved de-registration on 15/10/2019, finding it did not meet the high bar for special interest. Manx National Heritage and IoMNHAS appealed, arguing rarity of surviving quayside warehouses, historical context of Ramsey's port development, and that condition is irrelevant; they provided evidence of warehouse losses across Isle of Man towns. No inspector's analysis or final appeal outcome in documents.
Precedent Value
Highlights tension between regeneration pressures and heritage protection for functional vernacular buildings; demonstrates rarity can outweigh condition/alterations if evidenced nationally; future applicants should prioritize survival value, historical context over repair costs.
