9 June 2025 · Delegated - Head of Development Management (Stephen Butler)
Ground Floor, 1, Lake Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 5af
Align4Life proposed erecting a large digital LED signboard, measuring 3.84m wide by 2.88m high, positioned 2.12m above ground on the north-western elevation of their two-storey commercial building at 1 Lake Road in a mixed-use area of Douglas.
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The officer concluded that while the principle of digital signage was acceptable under General Policy 6(a) and GP7, given precedents and its relation to the site's business, the proposal failed due to…
General Policy 2
GP2 sets general development standards, including (g) that development must not unacceptably harm amenity of nearby properties. The officer assessed the sign's light intrusion into 45-degree outlook cones from primary habitable rooms in nearby apartments, finding it breached this due to excessive brightness and direct visibility, especially for apartment 6.
Environment Policy 22
ENV22 requires that amenity of nearby properties is not harmed by light pollution. The 9500 nits luminance, compared to precedents (6000-6500 nits), was deemed to create excessive glare equivalent to ~29,822 lux falling on apartment windows, far beyond street lighting or normal urban levels, causing substantial light pollution.
General Policy 6
GP6 governs external advertisements, requiring compliance with amenity and safety. Principle (a) accepted as 'state-of-the-art' digital media relating to site use; visual impact (b) neutral in mixed-use context; highway safety (c) compliant per Highway Services.
General Policy 7
GP7 states advertisements must relate to the site/building they are on. Despite past appeal interpretations noting tension with Advertisement Regulations, officer accepted as it advertises Align4Life's own business/services on their building.
Environment Policy 38
ENV38 requires advertisements near Conservation Areas to preserve character and views. Site adjacent to CA but sign not visible from key viewpoints; mixed-use regeneration context means no harm to CA appearance.
The proposal is acceptable in highway terms... unlikely to cause disruption or an obstruction to road users. Suggested conditions for images, transitions, luminance, etc.
Council is not raising an objection... ask for consideration of operational hours to reduce impact on future residential developments.
