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PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS Application No. : Applicant: Proposal : Site Address: 14/00914/D Carter Moon Limited Erection of iiluminated and non-iliuminated signage 55 Victoria Street Dougias Isie Of Man IMl 2LA Mr Edmond Riiey Case Officer; Photo Taken : Site Visit: Expected Decision Level: 27.08.2014 Officer Delegation Officer's Report 1.0 THE SITE The appiication site is the curtiiage of an estate agency situated at the ground fioor of a terraced buiiding fronting onto Victoria Street in Dougias. The unit is currentiy vacant but has pianning approvai for the use of an estate agent; its frontage is in a state of notabie disrepair and of a poor buiid and design quaiity; thin metai strips frame singie-giazed fioor-to- ceiiing window paneis. The access door is slightiy recessed at iies to the far right of the unit when viewed from the outside. No signage is currentiy in situ. 1.1 Surrounding the site is a mixture of town centre uses but aiso designs, with some units having retained almost ail their traditionai features whiie others, iike the appiication site, have iost these compieteiy. 1.2 2.0 THE PROPOSAL Advertisement consent is sought for the instaliation of iliuminated and non-iiluminated signage. The non-iiiuminated signage wiii take the form of a projecting aluminium sign tray with vinyi graphics, projecting approximateiy 100mm from the waii. It wouid be 600mm square and sit 3.2m above ground levei; it wouid be covered in vinyi graphics showing the company iogo, name and teiephone number in dark green and yeilow coiouring to reflect Carter Moon's corporate colours. 2.1 The iiluminated signage would sit across the full width of the shopfront, measuring 4.865mm in width and 685mm in height; this would have the same colouration and lettering and logo as the projecting sign, and be constructed of powder-coated aluminium. The lettering would be formed of flat-cut acrylic to project 25mm from the main sign itself. An LED trough 3850mm in width would sit centrally on the sign and project lighting downwards; the trough would be in either black or the same dark green of the signage. 2.2 3.0 PLANNING HISTORY Planning approval was granted for the change of use of the unit from retail to financial and professional services under PA 14/00330/C; approval was also previously granted for the change of use of the unit from retail to office accommodation under PA 08/02106/C. It is unknown if this latter approval was implemented, but it is evident from the state of the current shopfront that the latter approval has yet to be implemented. 3.1 14/00914/D 29 August 2014 Page 1 of 4

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3.2 A new shopfront was approved under 14/00511/B; this gave approval for the installation of a fully-glazed frontage of contemporary design. No other planning applications on this site are considered of material relevance to the determination of the current application. 3.3 4.0 PLANNING STATUS AND POLICY The site lies within an area of Predominantly Offices on the Douglas Local Plan of 1998. It is also within a Conservation Area. The use approved under PA 14/00330/C was considered compatible with this designation, 4.1 The Strategic Plan contains two policies of relevance to the determination of the application, General Policy 6 states: "Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they; (a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed; (b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and (c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard". 4.2 4.3 Environment Policy 37 builds on this: "As a general policy, advertisements within Conservation Areas will be permitted only if: i) the proposal preserves or enhances the Conservation Area; ii) the signage is in a style appropriate to the character of the area; iii) traditional materials and finishes are used and glossy and highly reflective materials are excluded from proposals; and iv) internally illuminated box fascia and projecting box signs are excluded from the proposals". 5.0 REPRESENTATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS 5.1 Highway Services have no objections to the application. The Conservation Officer has been consulted on the application and has no objections. 5.2 6.0 ASSESSMENT The new shopfront with its contemporary glazed finish will bring a welcome lift to a unit that sits within a Conservation Area and in close proximity to some Registered Buildings. This application for advertisement consent should be seen in that context. 6.1 Environment Policy 37 is perhaps the key policy; although General Policy 6 contains similar wording, the former policy provides extra protection and matters to take account of over and above those raised in the latter policy. 6.2 In this regard, it is considered that the proposed signage is acceptable. The materials used will be non-glossy and lit in a relatively modest way; while there are other ways to light a sign than that might be more appropriate (individual lamps, for example), the LED trough is not an unusual method and is also not, in and of itself, objectionable. 6.3 The pole-mounted lettering is also considered to be a positive feature, and will act to lift the signage as a whole. Other examples of this approach can be found in Victoria Street itself, and also on other commercial premises in other Conservation Areas. Metal is generally preferred but, as with the lighting, the acrylic approach is not in any way objectionable. 6.4 14/00914/D 29 August 2014 Page 2 of 4

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The side-mounted sign is also considered acceptable. While a top-hung mounting might be more appropriate for the Conservation Area, it is noted that the otherwise contemporary approach taken on the unit as a whole would potentially clash with a more traditional approach such as this. It is situated 3.2m above ground level and therefore will not adversely affect pedestrian safety. 6.5 The effect on public amenity from the proposal is judged to be acceptable in the context of the streetscene and unlikely to have any negative impact on private amenity of nearby residents or businesses. In this regard, it is considered that the proposal represents an enhancement to the Conservation Area and therefore meets the provisions of both Environment Policy 37 and General Policy 6. 6.6 It is noted that the submitted plans conflict slightly in respect of the colour of the LED trough; the architect’s drawings are clear that it will be a corporate dark green, while the specification sheet of the trough itself indicates that it would be either in the corporate dark green or black. While the green would be preferable from a consistency point of view, it is also considered that black would be acceptable; as such, either colour would be appropriate and no condition specifying the particular colour is considered necessary. 6,7 6.8 As noted, the Conservation Officer has been consulted on the proposal and considers it acceptable for the building and in the context of the wider streetscene. 7.0 RECOMMENDATION 7.1 It is recommended that the planning application be approved subject to conditions. 8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS In line with regulation 9(5) of the Control of Advert Regulations 2005, the following Persons are considered to have sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application to take part in any subsequent proceedings relating to the application: the applicant or, if there is one, the applicant's agent; the owner and occupier of the land the subject of the application; Highway Services, and the Local AuOiohty in whose district the land the subject of the application sits. 8.1 Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 29.08.2014 Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R: Reasons for refusal O : Notes attached to refusals 29 August 2014 14/00914/D Page 3 of 4

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C 1. The advertisement(s) hereby granted consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. Reason: To avoid the accumulation of unimplemented advertisement consents. This consent relates to the following plans and information, date-stamped as having been received 31st July 2014; the unsealed Site Map; the unsealed Location Map; 1417-VS-lOO; 1417-VS-lOl-A; the unsealed Projecting Sign Illustration and the Troughlight Illumination specification sheet. I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to Director of Planning and Building Control /Head of Development Management/ Senior Planning Officer. I'f Decision Made: Permitted Date : Determining officer (delete as appropriate) Signed :... Chris Balmer Senior Planning Officer Signed :... Sarah Corlett Senior Planning Officer Signed : Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control Head of Development Management Signed ;... Jennifer Chance 29 August 2014 14/00914/D Page 4 of 4