17 June 2025 · Delegated - Principal Planner (Chris Balmer)
44, Victoria Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 4hq
The proposal involved building a new open market four-storey house with a garage at street level, bedrooms with en-suites, balconies on the rear elevation, and features like bat and swift bricks for ecology. The site is a narrow sloping garden strip between two period semi-detached buildings (Nos.
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The officer concluded the proposal would disrupt the 'general rhythm of the overall group of buildings' due to its proximity (1.4-1.8m to No.44, 2.5-2.7m to No.46), protrusions beyond front (2m beyond…
Strategic Policy 4
Requires development proposals to protect or enhance nature conservation and landscape quality of urban areas, criticising 'anywhere' architecture and requiring analysis of context in siting, layout, scale, materials. Officer found proposal's scale, form and protrusions failed to respect context of period buildings, resulting in incongruous development.
Spatial Policy 5
New development must make positive contribution to Island's environment, supported by Design Statement accounting for local context in scale, form, layout, materials. Proposal's gable design mismatched Georgian neighbours and lacked innovation, failing to enhance character.
Environment Policy 42 - character and need to adhere to local distinctiveness
New development must take account of character and identity of the area. Officer assessed front/rear facades as disruptive to rhythm between Nos.44/46, with dual pitch gables and protrusions creating incongruity in streetscene of traditional dwellings.
General Policy 2
Permits zoned development if respecting site/surroundings in siting/layout/scale/design (b), not adversely affecting landscape character (c), and not harming residential amenity (g). Partially met on highways/ecology but failed on design/amenity due to proximity, balconies and overlooking.
does not object but sufficient storage space should be made available within the curtilage of the property for storage of recycling and general waste. Amended drawing addressed concern.
does not object; would not have significant negative impact upon highway safety, adequate off-road parking, visibility splay acceptable.
Content to not object, subject to mitigation conditions for bat/swift bricks and soft landscaping plan.
Douglas City Council has no objections to the erection of a new four-storey dwelling house at Land Adjoining 44 Victoria Road, Douglas, but requests sufficient storage space for waste and recycling receptacles.
Douglas City Council
Conditional No ObjectionAlthough the Council is not objecting to the principal of the development we would kindly ask that the applicant ensures that there is sufficient storage space available within the curtilage of the property for the storage of both residual waste and recycling receptacles
Conditions requested: applicant ensures that there is sufficient storage space available within the curtilage of the property for the storage of both residual waste and recycling receptacles
