29 July 2025 · Planning Committee
Saddle Mews Nursing Home, Saddle Mews, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 1hy
The proposal involves converting a vacant three-storey former nursing home on Groves Road, Douglas, into six four-bedroom townhouses, each with front and rear gardens, cycle/bin storage, air source heat pumps, and two off-road parking spaces.
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The officer noted the regrettable loss of the nursing home but accepted it as previously established by prior approval (16/00946/B), with the site suitable for residential use in a predominantly resid…
Strategic Policy 1
Requires optimising use of previously developed land/redundant buildings, efficient site use, and location utilising infrastructure. Officer assessed conversion of vacant nursing home in residential area near services as compliant, supporting reuse over vacancy.
Strategic Policy 2 - Priority for new development to identified towns and villages
New development primarily in existing towns/villages. Site in Douglas (main urban centre per Spatial Policy 1) in predominantly residential area per East Area Plan, suitable for housing.
Spatial Policy 5
New development to positively contribute to environment. Positive alterations (window rationalisation, annex reduction, render) improve building appearance, outweighing vacancy issues.
General Policy 2
Development permitted if respects site/surroundings (scale/design/landscaping), no adverse amenity/character/highway/flooding impacts, adequate parking/services. Assessed compliant on character (improves area), amenity (no neighbour harm), trees (minor risk), highways (meets standards), flooding (no increase).
Environment Policy 13
No unacceptable flood risk. Site outside high-risk area; conversion doesn't increase off-site risk and housing less vulnerable than nursing home.
Environment Policy 43
Supports regeneration/reuse of sound built fabric in run-down areas. Vacant building reuse improves site, aligns with policy.
Housing Policy 1
Provision for 5100 additional dwellings including conversions. Addresses general housing need in suitable urban location.
Transport Policy 4
Highways to accommodate development safely. Meets standards, no concerns from Highways Services subject to conditions.
Transport Policy 7
Parking per standards. Two spaces/unit complies with Appendix 7.
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.
Materials approval
All external facing and roofing materials to be used on the development hereby approved shall be as specified on Drawing Number 24 - 113 - 03 A unless details are otherwise submitted to and agreed in writing by the Department. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details. Reason: In the interest of the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area.
Landscaping scheme
No development shall commence until a hard and soft landscaping scheme has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The scheme shall include details of any walls, fences, trees and other planting to be retained; details of all new walls, fences and other boundary treatment and finished ground levels; a planting specification to include numbers, size, species and positions of all new trees and shrubs; the location of grassed areas; details of the hard surface treatment of the open parts of the site; and a programme of implementation. All hard and soft landscaping works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme. The works shall be carried out prior to the occupation of any part of the development or in accordance with the programme agreed in writing by the Department. Any trees or plants indicated on the approved scheme which, within a period of five years from the date of planting, die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced during the next planting season with other trees or plants of a species and size to be first approved in writing by the Department. All hard landscape works shall be permanently retained in accordance with the approved scheme. Reason: To ensure the provision of an appropriate landscape setting for the development and in the interests of the character and appearance of the area.
Boundary wall height
Any boundary wall fronting the highway shall be no more than 1m in height throughout its length. Reason: To ensure adequate visibility in the interests of highway safety.
Tree protection
No works or site clearance shall commence until details of the means of protecting the existing trees outside the site but adjacent to its eastern boundary during the works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The approved means of protection shall remain in place until the development has been completed. Reason: To safeguard the existing trees adjacent to the site.
Vehicular access, parking and turning
The development hereby approved shall not be occupied until the vehicular access, parking and turning areas have been provided in accordance with the approved plans. Such areas shall not be used for any purpose other than for access and the parking and turning of vehicles and shall remain free of obstruction for such use at all times. Reason: To ensure that sufficient provision is made for vehicular access, off-street parking and turning of vehicles in the interests of highway safety.
Cycle and bin storage
The development hereby approved shall not be occupied until the cycle and bin storage areas have been provided in accordance with the approved plans. The bin storage areas shall be retained for that purpose at all times thereafter. Reason: To promote sustainable travel and to protect residential amenity in the locality.
No objection subject to conditions on boundary wall height, vehicular access/parking/turning, cycle parking and bin storage
No objection
