23 February 2011 · Senior Planning Officer (delegated under Article 3(13) of the Town and Country (Development Procedure) Order 2005); refusal upheld by Minister on appeal
32-34, Malew Street, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 1af
The proposal sought retrospective permission for metal bollards, chains suspended between them, short metal fence panels at the entrance steps, and a bin enclosure on the open forecourt of a converted Methodist chapel used as offices at 32 Malew Street in Castletown's Conservation Area.
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The officer's report stated the panels, chains, and posts are 'utilitarian in appearance and out of character with the building in front of which they have been erected and the Conservation Area in wh…
Environment Policy 35
Requires development within Conservation Areas to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area and protect special features from inappropriate development. The officer assessed the metal bollards, chains, and panels as utilitarian and industrial, out of keeping in the historic streetscene, neither enhancing nor neutral in impact, thus contravening the policy.
Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Policy CA/2 (Conservation Areas)
Applies special attention to preserving or enhancing Conservation Area character. Inspector noted the proposal's straight metal tubes and fixings fell short of design quality expected, unacceptably affecting visual appearance compared to shaped street furniture elsewhere.
do not oppose has no adverse traffic management, parking or road safety implications
The original application (11/00090/B) for retrospective erection of bollards, metal panels, and chains to secure a parking area at a former chapel converted to offices was refused by the planning authority. The refusal centered on the industrial/utilitarian appearance being out of keeping with the historic street scene in the Conservation Area. The appellant argued the measures were necessary for parking control and bin storage, comparable to similar installations by government bodies elsewhere in Conservation Areas. The inspector, after a site visit, found the bollards of lesser design quality, incongruous in the street scene, and overall harmful to the Conservation Area's character. The appeal was recommended for dismissal, upholding the refusal.
Precedent Value
This appeal demonstrates that in Isle of Man Conservation Areas, even functional parking controls must match high design quality of existing street furniture to preserve character; future applicants should submit detailed designs comparable to approved local examples rather than relying on utility justification.
Inspector: John S Turner
