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17 November 2014 14/01263/B Page 1 of 3 PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Application No. : 14/01263/B Applicant : Mrs Mary Palmer Proposal : Erection of an extension to rear of premises Site Address : The Post Office Douglas Street Peel Isle Of Man IM5 1BB

Case Officer : Miss S E Corlett Photo Taken : 25.11.2014 Site Visit : 25.11.2014 Expected Decision Level :

Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report

THE SITE 1.1 The site is the curtilage of the post office in Peel, situated on the north eastern side of Douglas Street. The building sits within a gap between number 25 and 31, Douglas Street - both residential properties with gaps between the sides of the post office building and their gables. The space between the post office building and number 31 is sufficient for vehicular access which enables the post office vans to gain access to parking spaces at the rear of the site and for parking for other users of buildings in the vicinity including the rear of 22 and 24, Michael Street, which back onto the space to the rear of the application site.

1.2 The application building is traditionally styled, having been built in the 1990s for the purposes of a post office with an apartment above (PA 94/01365/B). To the rear however, there is a less traditional single storey flat roofed extension which accommodates a sorting office, staff kitchen and toilet facilities.

THE PROPOSAL 2.1 Proposed is a small extension to the existing flat roofed annex to provide a parcel sorting facility. The extension will be 2.9m long and the same depth as the existing annex and finished and designed to match this. The extension will have inward opening double doors which open into the building from the side yard. An existing integral post box will be removed to make way for the extension.

PLANNING STATUS AND POLICY 3.1 The site lies within an area designated as Mixed Use on the Peel Local Plan of 1989. The site also lies within Peel's Conservation Area.

3.2 As such, there is a requirement to ensure that development preserves or enhances the character and appearance of the Conservation Area as stated in Environment Policy 35 of the Strategic Plan and echoed in the Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man. It is also important that the development does not have an adverse impact on access or parking facilities as referred to in General Policy 2.

PLANNING HISTORY 4.1 Since the erection of the building there have been applications for alterations, all approved and none of which is considered relevant to the consideration of the current application.

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17 November 2014 14/01263/B Page 2 of 3

REPRESENTATIONS 5.1 Peel Town Commissioners and Department of Infrastructure Highway Services indicate that they do not oppose the application.

ASSESSMENT 6.1 The rear extension is currently not visible from the public highway nor will be the proposed extension which is modest in size and scale. Whilst the side lane and rear area are used by others, there is plenty of space to accommodate all of the users without adverse impact from the proposed extension.

6.2 It is considered that the proposal will have minimal impact on the appearance and character of the building, the area and the Conservation Area and will have a negligible impact on the use of the rear area in general and as such the application is recommended for approval.

PARTY STATUS 7.1 The local authority is, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, paragraph 6 (4) (e), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status.

7.2 Department of Infrastructure Highway Services is granted interested party status under the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013 paragraph 6 (4) d.

Recommendation

Recommended Decision:

Permitted

Date of Recommendation:

17.11.2014

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

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 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No2) Order 2013 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

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This approval relates to drawing reference MP/1/14 received on 4th November, 2014.

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17 November 2014 14/01263/B Page 3 of 3

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.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 9/12/14

Determining officer (delete as appropriate)

Signed :... Chris Balmer

Senior Planning Officer

Signed :... Sarah Corlett

Senior Planning Officer

Signed : Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher

Director of Planning and Building Control

Signed :... Jennifer Chance

Head of Development Management