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                                                 25/90749/GB
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PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Application No. : 25/90749/GB Applicant : Mr William Dunlop Proposal : Replacement of two casement opening windows on the south elevation - RB 172 (in association with 25/90750/CON) Site Address : Sulby Methodist Church Main Road Sulby Isle Of Man IM7 2HP

Technical Officer: Tom Sinden Photo Taken :

Site Visit :

Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation

Recommendation

Recommended Decision:

Permitted Date of Recommendation: 12.09.2025 __

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. It is judged that the application meets the statutory test within section 16 of the Act, as the building and its features of special architectural and historic interest, is being preserved by the replacement windows. It is also judged that the application would accord with Strategic Policy 4, Environment Policy 32 and Environment Policy 34 of the Strategic Plan as the proposed works would protect and preserve the registered building's special interest and traditional materials are being used. The application is therefore deemed to be acceptable.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This decision relates to the timber framed windows specified within the supporting information submitted on 4.8.2025. __

Right to Appeal

It is recommended that the following organisations should NOT be given the Right to Appeal:

Lezayre Parish Commissioners - No objection __ Officer’s Report

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                                                 25/90749/GB
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1.0 THE SITE

1.1 The site is the Registered Building Sulby Methodist Church (RB172). Constructed in 1912- 13, the building is a good example of an early 20th century Edwardian Methodist chapel and retains many original features and details including arts and crafts inspired stained glass. The building is not located within a Conservation Area.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL

2.1 This application seeks approval to replace two casement opening windows on the south elevation of the building. The existing windows are rectangular in form with small casement opening sections at their head. The windows have obscure glazing. The proposed replacement windows would be like for like in respect of the windows' form, materials and glazing.

3.0 PLANNING POLICY

3.1 The site lies within an area defined as Worship on the Sulby Local Plan 1998. The site is not in an area at risk of flooding.

3.2 National policy: THE ISLE OF MAN STRATEGIC PLAN 2016

General Policy 2: Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; and (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality. (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption.

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 34: In the maintenance, alteration or extension of pre-1920 buildings, the use of traditional materials will be preferred.

3.3 PPS 1/01 - Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man

3.4 Planning Circulars 1/98: The Alteration And Replacement Of Windows

4.0 OTHER MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1999 Statutory Duty

S16 Registered buildings: supplementary provisions

(3) In considering -

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                                                 25/90749/GB
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(a) whether to grant planning approval for development which affects a registered building or its setting, or

(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.

5.0 PLANNING HISTORY

5.1 There are numerous historic applications within the curtilage of the church. The most relevant application is judged to be 21/00588/CON, which granted registered building consent for internal works involving the removal of pews and concrete plinths, removal of tiled floor and installation of new floor, replacement of existing heating system with underfloor heating, remedial works to stained glass windows and glazed screen and upgrading of kitchen and toilet facilities.

6.0 REPRESENTATIONS

6.1 Lezayre Parish Commissioners have stated that they have no objections to the application (8.8.2025).

7.0 ASSESSMENT

Statutory Test 7.1 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 replace two windows on the building's south elevation in a like for like manner. The windows in question are not judged to be making a contribution to the building's special architectural or historic interest, and do not contain any of the historic stained glass noted in section 1.1. With this in mind, the like for like replacement of these windows is judged to be something that would preserve the building's special interest.

Policy Tests 7.2 As per section 7.1 above, the existing windows proposed to be replaced are not judged to be making a specific contribution to the building's special interest. As the materials, form, opening method and glazing is proposed to match the existing units, the application is judged to follow the guidance within planning circular 1/98. With this in mind, the proposals are judged to preserve the building's special interest and use traditional materials in accordance with environment policies 32 and 34.

8.0 CONCLUSION

8.1 It is judged that the application meets the statutory test within section 16 of the Act, as the building and its features of special architectural and historic interest, is being preserved by the replacement windows. It is also judged that the application would accord with Strategic Policy 4, Environment Policy 32 and Environment Policy 34 of the Strategic Plan as the proposed works would protect and preserve the registered building's special interest and traditional materials are being used. The application is therefore recommended for approval.

9.0 RIGHT TO APPEAL AND RIGHT TO GIVE EVIDENCE

9.1 The Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 sets out the process for determining planning applications (including appeals). It sets out a Right to Appeal (i.e. to

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submit an appeal against a planning decision) and a Right to Give Evidence at Appeals (i.e. to participate in an appeal if one is submitted).

9.2 Article A10 sets out that the right to appeal is available to: o applicant (in all cases); o a Local Authority; Government Department; Manx Utilities; and Manx National Heritage that submit a relevant objection; and o any other person who has made an objection that meets specified criteria.

9.3 Article 8(2)(a) requires that in determining an application, the Department must decide who has a right to appeal, in accordance with the criteria set out in article A10.

9.4 The Order automatically affords the Right to Give Evidence to the following (no determination is required): o any appellant or potential appellant (which includes the applicant); o the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, the Department of Infrastructure and the local authority for the area; o any other person who has submitted written representations (this can include other Government Departments and Local Authorities); and o in the case of a petition, a single representative.

9.5 The Department of Environment Food and Agriculture is responsible for the determination of planning applications. As a result, where officers within the Department make comments in a professional capacity they cannot be given the Right to Appeal.

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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 and/or rights to appeal.

Decision Made : Permitted

Date: 12.09.2025

Determining Officer

Signed : C BALMER

Chris Balmer

Principal Planner

Customer note

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