17 September 2025 · Planning Committee
Field 614147, Postal Locality, Agneash, Laxey, Isle Of Man, IM4 7nw
The proposal involves reinstating and improving three historic field accesses (Access 1 to Field 610513, Access 2 to Field 614147, and Access 3 to Field 614954) on the west side of the single-track Mines Road, an upland rural road from Laxey to Agneash.
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The proposal was deemed acceptable in principle under General Policy 3(f) and (h), supporting agricultural operations and countryside development where justified and sensitively implemented, as the ac…
General Policy 3
Presumption against countryside development except essential agriculture/forestry operations. Officer assessed accesses as justified for agricultural management of separated fields, sensitively implemented with low use.
General Policy 2
Development control criteria (e.g., highway safety 2(h/i), ecology 2(d), amenity 2(g), landscape 2(b/f)). Balanced via conditions for surfacing, visibility, ecology survey, use restriction; no unacceptable harm.
Environment Policy 15
Safeguard rural character/landscape. Proposal integrates with traditional materials, historic accesses, minimal scale; supports land management without visual intensification.
Environment Policy 4
Protect ecology/protected species. No survey submitted; potential reptile/bird habitat in sod banks; condition requires pre-works survey/mitigation (e.g., timing, planting).
Environment Policy 5
Mitigate habitat loss. ~77m² sod bank loss acceptable with proportionate enhancements; condition secures strategy despite natural revegetation.
Strategic Policy 4
Protect/enhance landscape/nature conservation. Uses traditional design; limited scale in open upland setting.
Spatial Policy 5
Design/visual impact. Conditions ensure rural integration, prevent recreational use.
Transport Policy 4
Highway safety/capacity. Revised splays, 6m bound surface, drainage meet Manual for Manx Roads for field accesses.
Time limit
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Agricultural use only
The field accesses hereby approved shall be used solely for agricultural operations directly associated with the management of Fields 610513, 614147, and 614954. No recreational, residential, or commercial use shall occur at any time.
Ecological survey
Prior to site clearance or construction works commencing on any of the approved accesses, a single ecological survey covering Fields 610513, 614147, and 614954 shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The survey shall identify habitat features, assess the potential presence of protected species, and propose access-specific mitigation and enhancement measures... Implementation as approved.
Bound surfacing
The surfacing of the accesses shall be constructed with a bound and consolidated surface for a minimum distance of 6 metres from the adopted highway boundary. The surfaces shall be implemented prior to the first use of each of the accesses and shall be retained as such thereafter.
Access 1 construction
Access 1 shall be constructed in full accordance with Drawing DWG. 04 Rev 4. Visibility splays shall be provided and maintained at a maximum height of 1.05 metres above ground level over the full extent shown on the approved drawing.
Access 2 construction
Access 2 shall be constructed in full accordance with Drawing DWG. 05 Rev 4. Visibility splays shall be provided and maintained at a maximum height of 1.05 metres above ground level over the full extent shown on the approved drawing.
Access 3 construction
Access 3 shall be constructed in full accordance with Drawing DWG. 06 Rev 4. Visibility splays shall be provided and maintained at a maximum height of 1.05 metres above ground level over the full extent shown on the approved drawing.
Access 2 drainage
Prior to first operational use of Access 2, drainage channels shall be installed in full accordance with the approved plans. These shall be maintained thereafter to prevent surface water runoff onto the public highway.
Access 3 drainage
Prior to first operational use of Access 3, drainage channels shall be installed in full accordance with the approved plans. These shall be maintained thereafter to prevent surface water runoff onto the public highway.
Access 1 gate details
Prior to commencement of works on Access 1, detailed specifications of the gate shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The gate shall be positioned to allow vehicles to enter and exit in forward gear without obstructing the highway. Fencing shall be installed to prevent unauthorised parking and ensure safe, controlled access.
Access 2 gate details
Prior to commencement of works on Access 2, detailed specifications of the gate shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The gate shall be positioned to allow vehicles to enter and exit in forward gear without obstructing the highway. Fencing shall be installed to prevent unauthorised parking and ensure safe, controlled access.
Access 3 gate details
Prior to commencement of works on Access 3, detailed specifications of the gate shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The gate shall be positioned to allow vehicles to enter and exit in forward gear without obstructing the highway. Fencing shall be installed to prevent unauthorised parking and ensure safe, controlled access.
No objection subject to revisions for visibility, drainage, and design
No objection
No objection
Accesses essential for grazing/management; separate gates prevent livestock mixing; used ~3 times/year
Historic use for emergency access during 2016 gorse fire
Highways Department raised conditional no objection to the retrospective field access reinstatement after revisions, while multiple Agneash residents submitted strong objections citing highway safety risks, non-compliance with Manual for Manx Roads, and disputing historical existence of accesses.
Key concern: Inadequate visibility splays and non-compliance with Manual for Manx Roads on blind bends of steep, narrow road
Department of Infrastructure Highways Development Control
Conditional No ObjectionThe proposal raises no significant road safety or highway network efficiency issues. Accordingly, Highway Services Development Control raises no objection to the proposal subject to the following suggested conditions; Recommendation: DNOC
Conditions requested: All access arrangements to be provided in accordance with Drawing No.s 04 Rev 4, 05 Rev 4, and 06 Rev 4; The visibility splays as shown in the above drawings to be provided prior to the use of the accesses with all obstructions within the visibility envelopes reduced to a maximum height of 1.05m and maintained as such for the lifetime of the development; Use of the accesses restricted to agricultural only, with no access permitted for the maintenance / management of the dedicated footpath or any infrastructure outside of agricultural purpose
Thie-Glionney Agneash (Resident, Chartered Engineer)
ObjectionThe proposals are deemed to present a safety hazard due to the insufficiency of detail and their marked non-compliance with the Manual for Manx Roads; It is strongly recommended that Planning Application 25/90132/B be refused in its present form
Ballawill Agneash (Resident)
ObjectionI WRITE TO STRONGLY OBJECT TO THIS APPLICATION; These entrances were unanimously refused permission by the Planning Committee on Highways recommendations and should be refused again
Department of Infrastructure Highways Development Control
No CommentRecommendation: Request further information / revisions
Ballawill Agneash (Resident)
ObjectionSAFETY! BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE…; Please REFUSE this application in good sense, refuse it. Do the right thing
Lilac Cottage Agneash (Resident)
ObjectionThese new entrances are simply not safe, they are dangerous to the public using Agneash Road
Thie Glionney (Resident)
ObjectionI entirely disagree with the findings of the report - in many aspects the summary conclusions are incorrect - in particular visibility splays; The middle and upper entrances are unsafe and will materially increase the risk of a road traffic incident
