1 August 2025 · Planning Committee
Tynwald Hill, Main Road, St Johns, Isle Of Man, IM4 3na
The proposal involves installing an illuminated bronze sculpture of Godred Crovan, standing 2370mm tall on a 300mm concrete plinth and 100mm base (total 2970mm high), within a 4m diameter circular paved area surrounded by a 500mm high stone wall, on public open space opposite Tynwald Hill.
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The Planning Committee overturned the officer's refusal recommendation, determining that the proposal positively contributes to the cultural and landscape setting of Tynwald Hill through a modest, sym…
Strategic Policy 4
Requires development to protect or enhance nature conservation, landscape quality, and setting of heritage assets. Committee found sculpture's modest scale/siting enhances cultural setting of Tynwald Hill, complying subject to conditions; overruled officer view of visual competition and harm.
Spatial Policy 5
Addresses design and visual impact, requiring positive environmental contribution. Committee deemed design appropriate to context, integrating without disrupting ceremonial landscape; contrasted officer assessment of verticality/illumination disrupting horizontality/openness.
Environment Policy 40
Prohibits development damaging archaeological sites, ancient monuments or their settings. Committee accepted compliance via archaeological watching brief condition, despite officer citing lack of Heritage Impact Assessment.
Environment Policy 41
Requires archaeological evaluations prior to determination for sites of known/potential significance. Committee imposed pre-commencement watching brief condition to address unverified geophysical anomalies, satisfying policy despite insufficient pre-submission evaluation.
Environment Policy 42
Requires development to respond sensitively to local character and identity. Committee found proposal enhances local distinctiveness via Norse heritage celebration; overruled officer concerns of material/visual discord in ceremonial landscape.
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect site character, integrate with surroundings. Officer found conflict due to visual assertiveness; Committee implicitly accepted via overall approval, focusing on cultural positive contribution.
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.
Archaeological watching brief
No groundworks or other development shall take place until a written methodology for an archaeological watching brief relating to the site groundworks has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The programme of archaeological monitoring shall be fully implemented in accordance with the approved written methodology. Reason: To ensure that any archaeological remains are appropriately recorded and/or assessed prior to their damage or destruction by the development in accordance with Environment Policy 41 of The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.
Lighting design approval
Prior to any above-ground works, details of the lighting design are to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The development shall not be carried out unless in accordance with the approved details and be retained thereafter. Reason: To ensure that the setting of Tynwald Hill and the safety of the adjacent road junction are not adversely impacted by the development.
No objection
Supports application conditional on compliance with regulations; enhances historic appeal of Tynwald Hill
Supports; improves understanding of Manx history, enhances underused verge, economic benefits, aligns with public art policy
No objection
No objection
No objection
Manx National Heritage (MNH) objects to the application due to significant archaeological risks and potential adverse impact on the setting of Tynwald Hill, recommending pre-application investigations; a public representation supports the proposal as fitting for Manx history.
Key concern: substantive archaeological impact from ground disturbance
Manx National Heritage
Objection"a development of this type...will inevitably have a substantive archaeological impact"; "the sculpture together with its plinth - is almost as tall as the Hill and will therefore affect, perhaps even diminish, the dominance that the Hill currently enjoys"; "We suggest that the application be held in abeyance pending the completion of appropriate pre-application investigation"
Conditions requested: Written Scheme of Archaeological Investigation to be required as a planning condition to clear site of archaeological remains ahead of construction
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Precedent Value
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