Officer Planning Report Recommendation

Application No.: 10/01611/C Applicant: Richmond Square Estates Limited Proposal: Additional use of residential apartment as tourist accommodation Site Address: - Apartments 36 & 38 - Quay West - Bridge Road - Douglas - Isle Of Man ### Considerations Case Officer: Mr Ian Brooks Photo Taken: ______________________________ Site Visit: ______________________________ Expected Decision Level: Senior Planning Officer ### Written Representations ### Consultations Consultee: Mr C Kniveton Chief Executive DED Notes: ______________________________ comments received. Consultee: EPU And Public Health Notes: ______________________________ standard comments received - Housing (Flats) Regulations 1982. Consultee: Highways Division Notes: ______________________________ Do not oppose Consultee: Douglas Corporation Notes:** ______________________________ no objection.

Officer's Report

Planning Status And Relevant Policies

Within the adopted Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007, the following policies are considered to be relevant in the determination of this application: General Policy 2 and Business Policy 13

Business Policy 13 states that "Permission will generally be given for the use of private residential properties as tourist accommodation providing that it can be demonstrated that such use would not compromise the amenities of neighbouring residents."

Asssement

The area within which the application site is located is identified as being mixed predominantly residential within the Douglas Local Plan. The proposed additional use of the apartment as tourist accommodation will be considered to be relevant in the determination of this application.

accommodation would not remove entirely the residential use of the units and as such the loss of a residential unit would be partial and would have a negligible impact upon the housing stock available for permanent residential use.

The application does not propose periods for residential use and tourist use. As such it is appropriate to base this assessment on the assumption that the majority of the year the apartment would be used for tourist accommodation, in other words, the worst case scenario of a high turnover of tourists using the apartment over the majority of the year.

The communal areas within the building serve a limited number of apartments. As such, it is judged that there would be limited impact upon neighbouring properties resulting from the proposed additional use. The site is within the central area of Douglas and as such is well located for tourists wishing to visit the town and stay close to local amenities. It is judged that the proposal would accord with Business Policy 13 set out above.

RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions. PARTY STATUS

The local authority are, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (c) and (d), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status.

The Highways Division of the Department of Transport is now part of the Department of Infrastructure of which the planning authority is part of. As such, the Highways Division cannot be afforded party status in this instance.

Tourism Division of Department of Economic Development have commented on non-planning matters and as such should not be afforded party status in this instance.

Environmental/Public Health Unit of the Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture have commented on non-planning matters and as such should not be afforded party status in this instance.

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 09.12.2010 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 permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.

C 2.

9 December 2010 10/01611/C Page 2 of 3

This permission relates to the additional use of Apartments 36 and 38 as tourist accommodation as shown in drawing numbers 905 P 001, 905 P 002, 905 P 101, 905 P 102, and 905 PH 001 date stamped 1st November 2010.

I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to the Senior Planning Officer. Decision Made: Permitted Date: 9/12/10 Signed: __________________________ Senior Planning Officer