10 July 2025 · Delegated - Principal Planner (Abigail Morgan)
Apartment 4, Britannia, 3, Harris Promenade, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 2hh
The proposal involves upgrading three public open spaces along Douglas Promenade: Marine Gardens 4 and 5 (Sunken Gardens) and Queens Gardens, damaged by Storm Barra in 2021. It includes new access ramps for disabled compliance, terraced seating, play equipment with nautical theme, skate ramp, soft landscaping, benches …
Click a button above to find applications similar to this one.
See how this application compares to similar ones — policies, conditions, and outcomes side by side.
The proposals deliver clear public benefits by providing enhanced play and open space for the community, improving the quality of the public realm along the Promenade, which has seen decline in use.
Recreation Policy 2
Protects open space and recreation facilities from loss or adverse effect unless alternative provision or community gain. Officer assessed no loss of open space occurs; proposals enhance quality, accessibility, and use post-storm damage, delivering overall community gain through play equipment, landscaping, and social spaces.
Environment Policy 35
Permits development in Conservation Areas only if it preserves or enhances character and protects special features. Assessed against Douglas Promenade CA's seaside resort features like sunken gardens and promenade; proposals retain historic elements, use appropriate materials, limit scale, rejuvenate tired spaces, increasing public use without dominance.
General Policy 2
Permits development respecting site/surroundings in siting, scale, design, landscaping; no adverse impacts on townscape, views, amenity, highways, safety. Officer found design fits context, improves amenity and access (DDA-compliant ramps), no highway harm (conditioned), enhances public realm without affecting sea views or character.
Environment Policy 10
Requires flood risk report for sites at risk. Site at high tidal flood risk but proposals do not increase impermeable surfacing or off-site risk, so compliant without objection.
Environment Policy 11
Permits coastal works not increasing flood risk or needing extra defences. No increase or transfer of risk; existing use context supports approval.
Environment Policy 12
Coastal defence works must not unacceptably impact coastal character/ecology. No such works proposed; enhancements preserve character.
Strategic Policy 4
Proposals must protect or enhance Conservation Areas. Duty under s18(4) TCPA met by preserving CA character through design and retention of features.
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.
Approved plans and materials
The development shall be completed in accordance with the materials as indicated on the approved drawings and within the approved Design and Access Statement dated January 2025. Reason: In the interests of the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area.
Seating shelter details
No seating shelter shall be constructed within Queens Garden until details of the siting, design, scale and materials of any shelter have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The shelters shall then be erected in accordance with the approved plans and retained thereafter. Reason: To allow the Department to consider the detailed design and siting of any shelter in the interest of visual amenity and safety along the highway.
No objection
No objection; proposals preserve character of sunken gardens and open green space in Conservation Area
One statutory consultee (DEFA Ecosystem Policy Officer) raised no objection subject to conditions on landscaping and pollution prevention; two private individuals objected primarily on grounds of cost, lack of consultation, and raising ground levels.
Key concern: waste of ratepayers' money and poor consultation
DEFA Ecosystem Policy Officer
Conditional No ObjectionNo objection subject to condition; The Ecosystem Policy Team are supportive of the proposals to increase the biodiversity value of the gardens through planting
Conditions requested: No works to commence unless a soft landscaping plan has been provided to Planning; No works to commence unless details of the measures to prevent damage to Douglas Bay Marine Nature Reserve, have been submitted to Planning and approved in writing
Woodbourne Road resident
Objectionplease take this email as a formal objection to the plans; implore upon the planning department to stop this application at least until fresh eyes and new leadership within the council have had chance to vet, verify and cost properly the plans submitted
Century Court resident
ObjectionI would like to object to this for the following reason to raise the existing area by 2 feet will make it difficult to walk on and the play area for children is not necessary
Century Court resident
ObjectionPlease do not raise this height "over half a metre" as proposed it is easy to walk on at present
