Brief Planning Statement

1785.11

APPLICATION FOR A NEW SEMI-PERMANENT STRUCTURE

At

THE FORMER SWIMMING POOL SITE, THE NUNNERY, OLD CASTLETOWN ROAD DOUGLAS for THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY (The ICT Ltd)

BRIEF PLANNING STATEMENT

The Applicant, The ICT Ltd seeks planning approval for a new semi-permanent structure on the former swimming pool site, next to the Stable and Chapel Block, at the Nunnery Estate. The application is for a set time period only and the Applicant requests planning approval for a period of three years.

Since the approval for the Multi-purpose Building on the former swimming pool site, under PA16/00865/B was granted, the strategic development of the estate has been reviewed; as a better understanding of the estate and the public role it should play materialises. Over a number of years, the ICT have been facilitating high quality events such as conferences, weddings, Tynwald Day celebrations and other special local community occasions. These have been taking place in marquees specially erected for a few days, on the lawn. Each event causes damage to the root system of the large trees and to the grass resulting in aftercare for the lawn to recover.

In the short term, a more pragmatic and common-sense approach is to determine the commercial sustainability of the new Multi-Purpose Building by erecting a semi-permanent structure on the former swimming pool site where these special functions can take place, allowing the lawn to provide a beautiful backdrop to the structure.

The proposed structure is a simple steel and aluminium framed structure with white PVC coated polyester fabric to upper walls and roof. The main wall panels are made of hard UPVC plastic planks coloured light grey. The windows and doors are aluminium framed and double glazed. The structures require no groundworks or foundations and can be erected directly onto the existing hardstanding which we plan to pave to create a smoother and more level surface.

The surface water collected from the roof will be discharged to suitably sized soakaways. There is no requirement for foul drainage as the toilets would be mobile units supplied as required for each planned event.

Parking for the events will be at the main estate car park, which has a capacity at present of 95 cars. A drop-off point has been designed to the main entrance and this has two disabled parking spaces allocated adjacent to the garden wall. From recent surveys undertaken there is sufficient spare capacity in the car park at present; and it is also anticipated that most functions would take place on evenings, weekends and public holidays, outside the general operating times for other functions on the site.

The Applicant has identified a business need for this building. The ICT believes it is in the most suitable and appropriate location. Therefore, the Applicant respectfully requests that planning approval is granted.