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Crown Division Government Offices Douglas Isle of Man 30 May 2014 To the Council of Ministers Case Reference DF14/0009 Planning Application 14/00248/B Application by Ramsey Town Commissioners for planning approval for the location of public art in the form of an illuminated life-size bronze sculpture of a child mounted on a freestanding granite block, on the public footpath adjacent to Nos 3 & 5 Market Hill, Ramsey.

1. I have the honour to report that on 19 May 2014 I carried out a site visit at the above location. The case is being made by written representations.
2. The proposed sculpture would be in Market Hill, Ramsey, on a footpath owned by the Department of Infrastructure. The application is therefore one that has to be determined by the Council of Ministers, not the Planning Committee. SITE DESCRIPTION AND THE PROPOSAL
3. No 3 Market Hill is in the Ramsey Conservation Area. It is near the junction of Market Hill and Parliament Street, within the part of the town centre where a regeneration scheme, including new paving, lighting and street furniture, Is being implemented.
4. The footpath outside No 3 has an irregular shape and a maximum width of about 9m. On the widest part of the footpath Ramsey Town Council proposes to erect a sculpture. It would be directly outside the Lifeboat Shop run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNU).
5. The Chief Minister's Regeneration Committee, in consultation with the Isle of Man Arts Council, has invited local artists to produce proposals for public art. Darren Jackson, a sculptor based on the Isle of Man, submitted a design that Ramsey Town Council now wishes to commission. It would be a life-size bronze statue of a child wearing the over-sized uniform of an adult RNLI lifeboatman, The child would be mounted on a block of rough-hewn granite, and the overall height of the whole installation would be about 2.2m. There would be four lOW LED "walkover" lights recessed into the paving around its base. REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED
6. The Planning Authority has received no representations. ADVICE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE'S PLANNING AND BUILDING CONTROL DIVISION
7. In the past 3 years, planning approval has been granted for various environmental improvements that form part of the Regeneration Plan for Ramsey. They include new paving, signage, lightirig, street furniture and landscaping in Parliament Street, East Street, Water Street, Peel Street, Bourne Place and Courthouse Gardens. Environment Policy 43 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan

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(loMSP) gives support to improvements, such as these, that seek to regenerate run-down areas. 8. Environment Policy 35 of the loMSP relates to development in conservation areas and is therefore particularly relevant. 9. The site falls within the Sulby River flood zone which has a flood return period of 200 years. ASSESSMENT 10. In my view, the main issue is whether the proposed sculpture would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Ramsey Conservation Area. 11. Ramsey town centre is being given a new lease of life. New paving, street furniture and landscaping have already enhanced the central part of the conservation area, and the regeneration work continues. 12. To my mind, the proposed sculpture would be a further enhancement. TTie poignant image of a child wearing an adult's iifeboatman's uniform would not only be attractive and eye-catching, but it would also have particular relevance to Ramsey's coastal location and its affiliation with the RNLI. 13. Environment Policy 35 of the loMSP requires development to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of conservation areas and, in my opinion, the proposed sculpture would achieve that objective. Its presence would enhance the character of the Ramsey Conservation Area. 14. So far as other matters are concerned, I am satisfied that the sculpture would not impede pedestrians. The 9m width of the footpath would leave at least 2m of unobstructed space around it. Furthermore, its size and solidity would help to make it visible for pedestrians with restricted sight. I am also satisfied that it would have a negligible impact on the Sulby River flood zone. RECOMMENDATION 15.1 recommend that planning approval be granted for the location of public art in the form of an illuminated life-size bronze sculpture of a child mounted on a freestanding granite block on the public footpath adjacent to Nos 3 & 5 Market Hill, Ramsey, as shown on location plans, drawings, photographs and technical lighting details all received on 6 March 2014, subject to the following condition: The development hereby approved shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. Ruth MacKenzie BA(Hons) MRTPI Independent Inspector

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STATEMENT SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF PLANNING AND BUILDING CONTROL DIVISION (DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE) Infrastructure bun-troggalys PA 14/00248/B: Installation of an illuminated sculpture. Public Footpath adjacent to Nos. 3 and 5 Market Hill, Ramsey, Isle of Man. statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) Page 1

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statement on behalf of the Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) in respect of: PA 14/00248/B: Installation of an illuminated sculpture, Public Footpath adjacent to Nos. 3 and 5 Market Hill, Ramsey, Isle of Man. 1.0 INTRODUCTION In accordance with the provisions of 10. (l)(b) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013 any planning application that proposes development involving land that the Department of Infrastructure Is in ownership it cannot be determined by the Planning and Building Control Division. In these instances the relevant legislation requires the planning application to be referred to and determined by the Council of Ministers. Such planning applications are dealt with by an appointed person (Planning Inspector) who is charged with assessing the proposed development and reporting their recommendations to the Council of Ministers. 1.1 1.2 Given ttie above, this statement is intended to set out the background of the planning application and identify what are considered to be relevant planning policy considerations. In order to avoid any perception of bias the statement purposely makes no assessment of the proposed development and offers no recommendation. 2.0 THE APPLICATION SITE The application site represents a section of footpath on the southern side of Market Hill, 14 metres east of the junction with Parliament Street, in Ramsey. The site lies within the Ramsey Conservation Area. The extent of which has been shown in Appendix A of this statement. 2.1 Immediately to the south of the application is No. 3 Market Hill which operates as the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) Shop. 2.2 statement on b^lf of Planning and Building Controi Division (Department of Infrastructure) Page 2

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Adjacent to the application site on the northern side of Market Hill is No. 4 Market Hill which accommodates a hair salon and No. 2 Market Hill adjoins No.4 Market Hill on the eastern elevation which is currently used as a retail unit. 2.3 Market Hill Is one way, travelling west to east from Parliament Street to Market Place. 2.4 A set of photographs showing the application site are included in Appendix B of this statement. 3.0 THE PROPOSAL 3.1 The planning application seeks approval for the installation of a sculpture with associated ground lighting. 3.2 The proposed sculpture represents a life size bronze sculpture, portraying a boy wearing his father's life boat kit, for the RNLJ. 3.3 The sculpture, including the plinth, would have an overall height of 2 metres, width of 1 metres and depth of 1.2 metres. 3.4 The final element of the proposal is the instailatlon of four LED directional feature lights that would be positioned 0.5 metres from each corner of the sculpture. The lights would have an overall diameter of 150mm, would be stainless steel and would operate at a maximum of 10 watts. 4.0 PLANNING HISTORY 4.1 In April 2009 a Town and Village Centre Regenerab'on Fund was established by Tynwald that offers funding to physically improve town and village centres. 4.2 The Regeneration Plan and proposals concentrate not only on the Statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) Page 3

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vision for the physical improvement of centra! Ramsey, but it also concentrates on what can be afforded and what can actually be delivered. The Regeneration Plan will help Ramsey to adapt to new roles and aims to support the community in moving forward. 4.3 There have been four previous planning applications that have been granted planning approval as part of the Regeneration Plan for Ramsey which have been listed below: PA 13/00314/B: Roadway and pavement improvement works including provision of new signage, fitter bins, seats and lamp standard heads. Part of Parliament Street and East Street, Ramsey PA 13/00502/B: Highway alterations including placement of new granite kerijs, granite footway surfacing, granite surfacing to road table, bitumen macadam surfacing to roadway and the provision of new signs, litter bins and lamp standard heads. Parliament Street, Between East Street And Court Row, Ramsey. PA 11/00796/B: Alterations and amendments to highways, installation of new street furniture, lighting plus hard and soft landscaping. Market Hill, Ramsey. PA 11/00791/B: Alterations and amendments to highways, installation of new street furniture, lighting plus hard and soft landscaping, Water Street, Peel Street, Bourne Place, Parliament Street and Courthouse Gardens, Ramsey. 5.0 PLANNING POUCY 5.1 In teims of local plan policy, the application site is in an area designated as Town Centre Mixed Use under the Ramsey Local Plan Order 1998 Map No. 2 (South). The application site is within the Ramsey Conservation Area. The application site also falls within the Sulby River flood zone which has a flood return period of 200 years. statement on behalf of Hanning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) Page 4

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There are no policies within Planning Circular 2/99, the written statement accompanies the Local Plan, considered specifically relevant to the assessment of this current planning application. 5.2 In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains four policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application: General Policy 2 states: "Development which is in accordance with the iand-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Pian and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief; (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space; (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) Page 5

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0. is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or Hooding; (m) takes account of community and persona! saiety and security in die design of buildings and die spaces around diem; and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption." Environment Policy 10 states: "Where development is proposed on any site where in the opinion of die Department of Local Government and the Environment there is a potential risk of Hooding, a Hood risk assessment and details of proposed mitigation measures must accompany any application for planning permission. The requirements for a Hood risk assessment are set out in Appendix 4." Environment Policy 35 states: "Witiiin Conservation Areas, die Department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character of appearance of die area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development." Environment Policy 43 states: "The Department will generally support proposals which seek to regenerate run-down urban and rural areas. Such proposals will normally be set in the context of regeneration strategies identiHed in the associated Area Plans. The Department will encourage the re-use of sound built fabric, rather than its demolition." 6.0 REPRESENTAnONS At the time of writing there have been no written representations made regarding the current planning application. 6.1 7.0 ASSESSMENT statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) Page 6

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7.1 As the application site is witiiin a Conservation Area, the main poiicy to consider is Environment Poiicy 35. This policy indicates that deveiopment wiil oniy be permitted when it wouid "preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area". 7.2 In addition to the above, Environment Policy 43 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan indicates that; "The Department will generally support proposals which seek to regenerate run-down urban and rural areas". Paragraph 7.35.1 of the Plan also indicates that; "The Department also supports, in general, environmental improvements to our towns and villages." 7.3 Ramsey is undergoing a major regeneration at present and is ever improving visually. The highway and pavements up to East Street have been replaced with bitumen macadam on the highway and flamed granite to the footpaths. There has also been new street fiimitjre installed along with a statue of 2 Vikings playing chess on Court row; outside the Post Office. 7.4 Public art serves two primary functions: It provides a tool for economic revitalization and creates community identity. It helps shape the quality of life for people in a community by offering a form of expression that embodies a community's spirit. It represents a sense of community pride and brings people together. Moreover, public art attracts people to a community who bring a broad airay of talents and experiences, ftjtther enriching it. 7.5 Overall, it is not considered that the level and scale of development proposed would impact upon the flood zone or result in increased flooding to the area. 7.6 The Conservation Officer has considered the application and has concluded the proposals could be an improvement to die character statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division {Department of Infrastructure) Page 7

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and appearance of the area and therefore could be beneficial In the Conservation Area and the area as a whole. 8.0 CONCLUSION 8.1 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan encourages and generally supports proposals which seek to regenerate run-down urban areas, as highlighted within Environment Policy 43. 8.2 The sculpture proposed would play an important role in everyday life as it can enhance and complement living environments, bring communities together, offer social and educational opportunities and promote tourism. 8.3 Ramsey Town has a strong community affiliation with the RNLJ with the Ramsey Station being establish in 1829 just 5 years after the start of RNLI and celebrating its 185^ anniversary this year. 8.4 The work symbolises the youth of tomorrow supporting the RNLI and the further continuation of its long history, and was felt to be fitting in relation to both 2014 as Island of Culture Year and the 190th anniversary of the RNLT (first founded by Sir William Hillary as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in the Isle of Man in 1824). 8.5 The proposed works coincide with ongoing regeneration schemes that are currently being implemented along Parliament Street and Ramsey Town Centre. 8.6 The proposal looks to make Ramsey an attractive place to be and visit, along with adding to the overall quality and character to the town. 9.0 RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS Statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) Pages

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9.1 Should the appointed person be minded to recommend that the application be permitted, the following conditions are recommended: Cl. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. C2. The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in full accordance with the Location Plan, Site Plan, REF RTC/01, elevations, location of artwork and lights and A4 booklet detailing the proposed sculpture received on 6“’ March 2014. This statement has been prepared by the Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (DeparGnent of Infrastructure) Pages

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APPENDIX A Ramsey Conservation Area statement on behaff of Planning and Building Control Division {.Department of Infrastructure) Page 10

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APPENDIX I A set of photographs showing the application site statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) Page 12

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view of the application site from Market Place statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (Department of Infrastructure) Page 13

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-tMiiniiiii'iiWm :: ;^=" ::li.Jr4 :? ik '•> The application site 1 .T ■■5: /: : *1C / •' j’ "' ■ I- View of the application site from Parliament Street statement on behalf of Planning and Building Control Division (Deparfan«it of Infrastructure] Page 14