221874

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                                                 25/90490/C
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PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Application No. : 25/90490/C Applicant : Isle Of Man Post Office Proposal : Change of use of part of parcel hall as garage workshop Site Address : Isle Of Man Post Office Headquarters Spring Valley Industrial Estate Douglas Isle Of Man IM2 1AA

Planning Officer: Peiran Shen Photo Taken :

Site Visit :

Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation

Recommendation

Recommended Decision:

Permitted Date of Recommendation: 09.06.2025 __

Conditions and Notes for Approval C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

C 1. 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.

This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. The proposal does not harm the character of the area or neighbouring amenities. It is considered to comply with General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This approval relates to the documents, location plan, site plan and proposed floor plan, which have all been received on 14th May 2025.

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Right to Appeal

It is recommended that the following organisations should NOT be given the Right to Appeal: Malew Commissioners - No objection DoI Highway Services - No objection __

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE

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                                                 25/90490/C
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1.1 The application site is the Isle of Man Post Office Headquarters, Spring Valley Industrial Estate, Douglas.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL 2.1 The proposed use is to utilise a section of the existing sorting facility as a garage.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY 3.1 There is no previous application considered materially relevant to this application.

4.0 Planning Policy Site Specific 4.1 The site is within an area designated as Industrial in the Area Plan for the East.

Strategic Policy 4.2 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains the following policies that are considered materially relevant to the assessment of this current planning application: o General Policy 2 (b) (c) (g) (h) (i)

4.3 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan has no assumption in favour of new development. In decision-making, this means that where a planning application conflicts with the Plan, approval should usually not be granted.

PPS and NPD 4.4 There is no planning policy statement or national policy directive considered to be materially relevant to this application.

5.0 OTHER MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS Strategy and Guidance 5.1 There is no relevant strategy or guidance that directly applies to this application.

6.0 REPRESENTATION 6.1 Douglas City Council has no objection to this application (30.05.2025).

6.2 DoI Highway Services does not oppose this application (21.05.2025). The comment states that there is no significant negative impact on highway safety, network functionality, and/or parking, as the site has suitable parking for both the proposed and existing uses.

7.0 ASSESSMENT Elements of Assessment 7.1 The key considerations in the determination of the application are its impact on the character and streetscene of the area and neighbouring amenities.

7.2 The proposed use is still industrial and is therefore considered to have no negative impact on the character of the area or neighbouring amenities.

8.0 CONCLUSION 8.1 The proposal does not harm the character of the area or neighbouring amenities. Therefore, the proposal is considered to comply with General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan and is recommended for approval.

9.0 RIGHT TO APPEAL AND RIGHT TO GIVE EVIDENCE

9.1 The Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 sets out the process for determining planning applications (including appeals). It sets out a Right to Appeal (i.e. to submit an appeal against a planning decision) and a Right to Give Evidence at Appeals (i.e. to participate in an appeal if one is submitted).

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                                                 25/90490/C
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9.2 Article A10 sets out that the right to appeal is available to: o applicant (in all cases); o a Local Authority; Government Department; Manx Utilities; and Manx National Heritage that submit a relevant objection; and o any other person who has made an objection that meets specified criteria.

9.3 Article 8(2)(a) requires that in determining an application, the Department must decide who has a right to appeal, in accordance with the criteria set out in article A10.

9.4 The Order automatically affords the Right to Give Evidence to the following (no determination is required): o any appellant or potential appellant (which includes the applicant); o the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, the Department of Infrastructure and the local authority for the area; o any other person who has submitted written representations (this can include other Government Departments and Local Authorities); and o in the case of a petition, a single representative. __

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded interested person status and/or rights to appeal.

Decision Made : Permitted

Date: 10.06.2025

Determining Officer

Signed : J SINGLETON

Jason Singleton

Principal Planner

Customer note

This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the office copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online service/ customers and archive record.