8 January 2025 · Head of Development Management (Stephen Butler)
Sure Telecoms Mast, Colby Afc Clubhouse, Main Road, Colby, Isle Of Man, IM9 4lr
The proposal seeks to vary a condition from a previous approval (PA 09/00340/B) to allow the six existing 15m tall floodlights on the Astroturf pitch at Colby AFC Clubhouse to operate until 10pm (2200hrs) instead of 9pm (2100hrs), between 1500hrs and 2200hrs daily.
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The officer balanced the need for extended floodlight use to facilitate greater sports facility operation, bookings for U18s and ladies teams, and community health/wellbeing benefits against amenity i…
General Policy 2
Requires general development standards. Officer assessed the proposal complies as it supports sports facilities without significant adverse harm to visual or neighbouring amenity in the rural setting.
Environment Policy 22
Addresses environmental matters such as noise, smell and light pollution. The one-hour extension of task lighting was found acceptable with limited spill, not causing significant harm beyond existing illumination, especially given precedents.
Time limit
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.
Floodlight operating hours
The floodlighting for the astro may not be operated after 2200hrs or before 1500hrs on any day. Reason: In the interest of visual and neighbouring amenity of the site and surrounding area.
Scope of approval
This application relates to the extension of time to the illumination of the floodlights only. Reason: the application has been submitted with details and plans for other parts and buildings on the site which do not relate to this application and have been superceded since 09/00340/B by other applications. This application is for floodlight illumination hours only.
in support
no highways interest, no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network functionality and/or parking
Highway Services HDC does not oppose application 24/91167/B, finding no significant negative highway impact. A neighbouring resident objects due to noise, vehicle movements, and light pollution.
Highway Services HDC
No ObjectionAfter reviewing this Application, Highway Services HDC finds it to have no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network functionality and/or parking.
Planning approval was granted by committee for creation of football ground, clubhouse, parking, lighting, and access south of Colby Station, subject to conditions including restrictive Condition 9 on clubhouse use and hours. Local residents appealed the approval citing rural character harm, traffic safety, noise/disturbance, and lighting intrusion; Colby AFC Ltd appealed Condition 9 as overly restrictive. The inspector found minor policy conflicts with rural character but accepted due to prior approval in principle and authority support; highway safety acceptable; residential amenity concerns addressed via modified conditions. The Minister dismissed objectors' appeals, allowed the applicant's appeal, and approved with revised conditions including extended hours to 2245/2345, allowance for 6 special event variations yearly, and clarified uses.
Precedent Value
Demonstrates appeals can succeed with detailed condition rewording for enforceability (e.g. 'no person inside' vs 'use ceases'); prior approvals carry significant weight even for expanded schemes; amenity harms controllable via hours/site clearance if evidence shows balance achievable.
Inspector: Graham Self MA MSc FRTPI
