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PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Application No. : 24/00463/GB Applicant : Michael Parish Church Proposal : Installation of protective panels to church windows (in association with RB consent 24/00464/CON) Site Address : St Michaels Church Main Road Kirk Michael Isle Of Man IM6 1ER

Technical Officer: Thomas Sinden Photo Taken : Site Visit : Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation

Recommendation

Recommended Decision:

Permitted Date of Recommendation: 30.05.2024 __

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. The application meets the statutory tests within section 16 and 18 of the Act, as the building and its features of special architectural and historic interest are being preserved by the protective coverings proposed, and the conservation area's character is being preserved. It is also judged that the application would accord with Strategic Policy 4, General Policy 2 and Environment Policies 32 and 35 of the Strategic Plan as the proposed works would protect and preserve the building's special interest, respect the building's character and preserve the character of the conservation area. The application is therefore considered to be acceptable.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This decision relates to the location plan, site plan and window protection detail drawings, together with the statement of needs and statement of significance documents all received on 30th April 2024.

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Interested Person Status - Additional Persons

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None __

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE

1.1 The site is St Michael and All Angels Church (Michael Parish Church), a Registered Building within the Kirk Michael Conservation Area. The church was consecrated in 1835, replacing the 12th century parish church that was deemed in poor condition and too small for the parish population. Designed by architect John Welch, the church has a Victorian Gothic style, is cruciform in shape with a large tower at the west end. The church is rendered, with metal framed windows and a natural slate roof.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL

2.1 This application seeks approval to install protective panels on all of the church windows, save for those that have already received protective panels within the 2020 repair works (see item 4.2). The protection is proposed to be in the form of a ventilated polycarbonate sheet fixed to the window heads and to the chamfered window reveals. The application is concurrent with registered building consent application 24/00464/CON).

3.0 PLANNING POLICY.

3.1 The site has an established use as a Place of Worship, and is within the Kirk Michael Conservation Area. The site is not in an area at risk of flooding according to the Government's Flood Risk Viewer.

3.2 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1999

S16 Registered buildings: supplementary provisions (3) In considering - (b) whether to grant registered building consent for any works, the relevant Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses.

S18 Designation of conservation areas (4) Where any area is for the time being a conservation area, special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing its character or appearance in the exercise, with respect to any buildings or other land in the area, of any powers under this Act.

3.3 National policy: THE ISLE OF MAN STRATEGIC PLAN 2016

General Policy 2 Strategic Policy 4 Environment Policy 32 Environment Policy 35

3.4 Planning Policy Statements: 1/01 Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man

POLICY RB/5

4.0 PLANNING HISTORY

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4.1 Whilst there have been several historic applications for internal alterations, installation of antenna/dishes and the formation of an access, none of these are considered relevant to the current application.

4.2 Applications 20/01121/GB and 20/01122/CON permitted repair works to the church tower and south transept. These works were focused on the installation of protective panels around the windows, and repairs to the reveals and cills.

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 D.O.I. Highways have stated that there is no highways interest in the proposals (3.5.2024).

6.0 ASSESSMENT

Statutory Tests 6.1 Section 16 of the Act states that the "Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses." In this instance, the application proposes to install protective polycarbonate panels over the church's windows. This work is intended to protect the historic leaded stained glass windows. The works replicate protective coverings that have been installed on two windows in 2020, which has been successful in preventing further damage to the windows and stopping water ingress. The interventions required to install these protective panels is relatively minor, with fixings in to the window heads and reveals. Given that the works are intended to protect and preserve the church's stained glass windows, and to prevent water ingress that would damage the building's historic internal fabric, it is considered that the proposals pass the statutory test as the building and its features of special interest are being preserved.

6.2 Section 18 of the Act states that "Where any area is for the time being a conservation area, special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing its character or appearance in the exercise...of any powers under this Act." As one of the principal civic and historic buildings in the Kirk Michael Conservation Area, Michael Parish Church is considered to make a very significant contribution to the character of the conservation area. The measures within this application that are intended to protect the historic windows and prevent water damage to internal fabric have the clear intention of preserving elements of the Church's historic fabric, and as such this application is considered to meet the statutory test within section 18.

Policy Tests 6.2 The window protection works proposed within this application are intended to protect the building's stained glass windows, and to prevent subsequent water damage to internal fabric that has been known to occur as a result of defective windows. The method has been successfully tested on windows in the tower and south transept. As the works are intended to protect elements of special architectural and historic interest, it is judged that the proposals would preserve and protect this registered building's special interest. The proposed works are a relatively common method of protecting historic windows, and beyond the requisite fixings, are reversible. With this in mind, it is considered that the proposals respect the building and its character.

7.0 CONCLUSION

7.1 It is judged that the application meets the statutory tests within section 16 and 18 of the Act, as the building and its features of special architectural and historic interest are being preserved by the protective coverings proposed, and the conservation area's character is being preserved. It is also judged that the application would accord with Strategic Policy 4, General Policy 2 and Environment Policies 32 and 35 of the Strategic Plan as the proposed works would

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protect and preserve the building's special interest, respect the building's character and preserve the character of the conservation area. The application is therefore recommended for approval.

8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS

8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019, the following persons are automatically interested persons:

(a) the applicant (including an agent acting on their behalf); (b) any Government Department that has made written representations that the Department considers material; (c) the Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure; (d) Manx National Heritage where it has made written representations that the Department considers material; (e) Manx Utilities where it has made written representations that the Department considers material; (f) the local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated; and (g) a local authority adjoining the authority referred to in paragraph (f) where that adjoining authority has made written representations that the Department considers material.

8.2 The decision maker must determine: o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than the Department of Infrastructure Highway Services Division) are material; and o whether there are other persons to those listed above who should be given Interested Person Status __

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status.

Decision Made : Permitted

Date: 31.05.2024

Determining officer Signed : C BALMER

Chris Balmer

Principal Planner

Customer note

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