Loading document...
Application No.: 24/00451/CON Applicant: Douglas City Council Proposal: Registered Building Consent to erect City Hall plaque on front elevation of building RB169 Site Address: City Hall Ridgeway Street Douglas Isle Of Man IM99 1AD Technical Officer: Thomas Sinden Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 16.05.2024
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The works hereby granted registered building consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this consent.
Reason: To comply with paragraph 2(2)(a) of schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented registered building consents.
This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason.
The application meets the tests of Section 16 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 as the proposed plaque is of a size, form, style and material that would preserve the building's special interest. The proposals are also judged to meet the tests of Strategic Policy 4 and Environment Policies 32 and 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, and Planning Policy Statement 1/01, as the proposed plaque is in a form and style that would protect and preserve the Registered Building, its setting, and the character of the Conservation Area. The application is therefore considered to be acceptable.
Plans/Drawings/Information; This decision relates to the plaque details and supporting information received on 11th April 2024. _______________________________________________________________
Additional Persons None
1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The site is Douglas Town Hall. Following the designation of Douglas as a city, the building is now being known as Douglas City Hall. The building is entered on the Protected Buildings Register (RB 169), and has been in use for the same purpose since 1899/1900. The property is also located within the Athol Street/Victoria Street Conservation Area.
2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 The application seeks registered building consent to erect a plaque on the Ridgeway Street elevation of the building. The plaque is proposed to be fixed in the centre of a stone plinth below the second window from the right. The plaque would measure 550mm long by 380mm high, include the Douglas Corporation crest, the words 'CITY HALL' and a note at the base stating 'Unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Camilla on 20th March 2024'.
3.0 PLANNING POLICY - 3.1 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.
3.2 National policy: THE ISLE OF MAN STRATEGIC PLAN 2016 Strategic Policy 4: Proposals for development must: (a) Protect or enhance the fabric and setting of Ancient Monuments, Registered Buildings(1), Conservation Areas(2), buildings and structures within National Heritage Areas and sites of archaeological interest;
Environment Policy 32: Extensions or alterations to a Registered Building which would affect detrimentally its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest will not be permitted.
Environment Policy 37: As a general policy, advertisements within Conservation Areas will be permitted only if:
3.3 Planning Policy Statements: 1/01 Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man
4.1 There are numerous applications in the Department's electronic database relating to the property, principally focussed around the upkeep and adaptation of the building over time to fulfil its civic functions. None of the applications are judged pertinent to the assessment of the current application to erect a name plaque on the wall.
5.0 REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 No comments have been received in respect of the application.
6.0 ASSESSMENT Statutory Test - 6.1 Section 16 of the Act requires that when considering whether to grant registered building consent, the Department must "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 proposed plaque would be painted metal, black for the most part with the border and writing/crest in gold. The plaque is judged to be in a style, form, and material that is appropriate to this prominent registered building, and as such it is judged to preserve the building's setting and features of special interest. Policy Tests - 6.2 The application seeks consent to erect a plaque on the principal elevation of this prominent registered building. The plaque would state the building's new name following the designation of Douglas as a city. The plaque was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Camilla, whilst it was placed on a temporary panel inside the building, on 20th March 2024. The size, form, style and materials of the plaque are judged to be appropriate for both the building and its status, and as such it is judged that the building's special interest and its setting would be protected and preserved by the proposal. With the above in mind, the proposals are also judged to preserve the special interest of the conservation area.
7.0 CONCLUSION - 7.1 The application is judged to meet the tests of Section 16 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 as the proposed plaque is of a size, form, style and material that would preserve the building's special interest. The proposals are also judged to meet the tests of Strategic Policy 4 and Environment Policies 32 and 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, and Planning Policy Statement 1/01, as the proposed plaque is in a form and style that would protect and preserve the registered building, its setting, and 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 (Registered Buildings) Regulations 2013 (As Amended), the following are automatically interested persons:
8.2 In addition to those above, the Regulation 9(3) requires the Department to decide which persons (if any) who have made representations with respect to the application, should be treated as having sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application to take part in any subsequent proceedings relating to the application.
I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Head of Development Management 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 : 16.05.2024 Determining officer Signed : S BUTLER Stephen Butler Head of Development Management
Customer note This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the file copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online services/customers and archive records.
Copyright in submitted documents remains with their authors. Request removal
View as Markdown