Additional Planning Statement Kerrowkeil Chapel

Additional Planning Statement For The Conversion Of Kerrowkeil Chapel To Residential And Tourist Accommodation

• 1.0 Introduction
• 1.1 Further to the submission of the above application, the Planning Officer has sought additional information to demonstrate that the proposal satisfies the relevant planning policies and to address certain issues with the submitted drawings.

• 2.0 Demonstration of redundancy
• 2.1 As was stated in the original application Planning Statement, the building is redundant for its original purpose (place of worship): the church have sold the property following falling attendance due to the isolated location of the property. In addition, there is currently no car parking on site and limited opportunity for providing this with the Grenaby Road being narrow and winding and generally unsuitable for large numbers of vehicles parked thereon. Internal space is limited and there is no access for those who use wheelchairs and difficult access for people with physical disabilities due to the slope of the site and differences in level with the adjacent land.
• 2.2 Attached are the original sales particulars and an e-mail from the estate agent, which indicate that the vendor is the Isle of Man Methodist Church. This confirms that the building is no longer required by them. It is particularly notable that the building was sold complete with altar and pews, which one imagines, if the church had been seeking to re-establish the facility elsewhere, they would have removed these prior to sale.
• 2.3 The number of people attending small rural chapels such as this is declining for all sorts of reasons but in this case it is clear that the building was no longer required by the Church for its original purpose as a Place of Worship.

• 3.0 Suitability of the building for conversion
• 3.1 The applicant’s architect who prepared the drawings, J G Smith MCIAT MCIOB RMaPS DEA, visited Kerrowkeil Chapel on 8th February 2024 to survey the property and to provide further design assurances. They also undertook a basic structural appraisal as the existing structure and the implications for the conversion.
• 3.2 They confirmed that the existing structure is in an adequate structural condition for the associated works. The building company who will be undertaking the works have also confirmed that the building is structurally capable of the works proposed and it should be

noted that there are no significant changes to the building nor substantial changes to openings which could threaten the structural stability of the building.

• 4.0 Details of the new door on the eastern elevation, window on the southern elevation and the conservation style roof light and windows on the northern elevation
• 4.1 Drawing 24/0707 04A now shows details of the roof light, windows and doors to be installed.

• 5.0 Provisions for bin storage
• 5.1 Drawing 24/0707 04A demonstrates that the bin will be stored in the new car parking area. Whatever the building is used for, there will be a need for the storage and collection of bins. There is no opportunity for keeping the bin in a more discreet location closer to the building as putting it next to the building itself would render it much more visible.

As shown the bin may be stored in the car parking area where it is easy and safe to collect and empty whilst generally sitting below the height of the new retaining walls.

• 6.0 Construction method statement
• 6.1 Please see Construction drawing which shows how the project would be implemented.
• 6.2 The turquoise/green shaded area is the access road that will be Heras fenced off to allow access at all times.
• 6.3 The blue line is the heras fencing erected on the site site: this will remain in place to keep the site and the access road apart.
• 6.4 The orange shaded area is the final parking area but will be reduced level to make it into a site compound/material storage whilst the site is up and running. It will be put right and be constructed as the drawings into the car park at the end of the works.
• 6.5 Any material excavated for the creation of the car park will be minimal in quantity and will be removed from site and used for hedge and road repairs within the Grenaby Estate owned by the applicant.

7.0 Conclusion 7.1 We hope this additional information demonstrates that the proposal accords with the relevant policies and finds an acceptable and appropriate use for this interesting old building which is clearly visible and historically and visually part of the character of the surrounding area.

Sarah Corlett 08.07.24