7 October 2019 · Planning Committee
20, St Georges Street, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 1ah
The proposal seeks permission for the continued temporary use of an almost-triangular, hard-surfaced brownfield site at the corner of St George's and Hope Streets as a car park for Thyme Ltd's tenant Microgaming Ltd, who require parking for their nearby offices.
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The officer recognised the Council of Ministers' Action Plan presumption against temporary car parks on brownfield sites to ensure 'faster brownfield site redevelopment and encourage socio-economic de…
Strategic Policy 1
Requires best use of resources by optimising previously developed land. The officer noted the site is brownfield but justified temporary use as it supports redevelopment plans by meeting parking needs for approved nearby offices, aligning with brownfield optimisation in the interim.
General Policy 2
Sets development control criteria including no adverse effect on townscape character, resident amenity, safe access/parking, road safety, and flooding risk. Assessed compliant as the established use causes no change in appearance or highway issues, with DoI Highways no objection; site borders conservation area but no views detriment found.
Environment Policy 36
Permits development outside but close to Conservation Area boundaries only if not detrimentally affecting important views into/out of the area. Site abuts Athol Street/Victoria Street Conservation Area; officer noted paragraph 7.30.1 on views but found no adverse impact from temporary hard-surfaced use.
Transport Policy 4
Requires highways to accommodate development-generated traffic safely and in line with environmental objectives. Satisfied with access from St Georges Street and DoI Highways no objection.
Transport Policy 7
Sets shorter-term parking standards for developments, with long-term aim to reduce town centre parking via sustainable plans. Relevant via linked approvals requiring parking strategy/Travel Plan for Microgaming offices; temporary use supports this pending permanent provision.
Temporary use time limit
The use of the site as a temporary car park may continue until 20.09.20 whereupon the use must cease. Reason: to reflect the intention of the application and to coincide the temporary period to that of recent approvals for temporary car parks in Douglas, all to accord with the COMIN directive on temporary car parks.
no objection
Douglas Borough Council objected to the retrospective temporary car park application due to exceeding the recommended 24-month period and unfulfilled parking obligations, while Highways had no highways-related objections.
Key concern: site has been a temporary car park for over the recommended twenty-four month period
Douglas Borough Council
ObjectionDouglas Borough Council objects to the application on the following grounds; The site has been a temporary car park for over the recommended twenty-four month period and that the applicant has not fulfilled their obligation of the original planning conditions to provide adequate parking for staff; by allowing the continuation of this temporary arrangement that a dangerous precedent would be set
Highways
No ObjectionThe access arrangements onto St Georges Street are considered acceptable; there are no highways related objections to the car park in terms of it being extended for another temporary period of 12 months; Recommendation: DNO
