8 February 2024 · Acting Head of Development Management (Abigail Morgan)
2-3, North Quay, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 4lj
The proposal involves adding edge strip lighting, internally illuminated 'bubble' and 'bubblelicious' signs in light blue, and replacement 'Orb' pillar lights to the modern 5-6 storey apartment building at a prominent corner junction in Douglas town centre.
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The officer determined that the proposal does not conflict with General Policy 2 and Environment Policy 37, having no adverse impact upon public or private amenities or the character and appearance of…
General Policy 2
General Policy 2 is the overarching policy assessed for general development control. The officer concluded the proposal complies as it has no adverse impacts on amenities or Conservation Area character. Specific lighting and signage elements were tested for suitability in this prominent urban location.
Environment Policy 37
ENV37 permits advertisements in Conservation Areas only if they preserve or enhance the area, use appropriate styles, traditional materials (excluding glossy/reflective), and exclude internally illuminated box fascia/projecting box signs. The officer found the subtle modern light blue signs and linear lighting enhance the modern building, integrating well without detracting, thus satisfying all criteria.
General Policy 6
GP6 permits external advertisements in towns if high design standard, relating well to building/site, in keeping with surroundings, and not causing highway hazards. Cited for the busy urban location; the proposal was deemed to meet these through its understated design and conditional controls.
Time limit
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 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.
Wall lighting and bubble signs controls
For the wall lighting and 'bubble' signs: NO LIGHTING EFFECTS: There shall be no special effects (including changing colours, traffic signal light colours, flashing or strobe lighting effects) of any kind during the time that any wall lights are on. LUMINANCE LEVEL: At no time shall the Luminance level of the lighting and signs exceed the thresholds contained within the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) guidance document GN09 - Domestic Exterior Lighting (or any subsequent amendment/replacement to this guidance) and the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) guidance document PLG05 - The Brightness of Illuminated Advertisements (or any subsequent amendment/replacement to this guidance). Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and highway safety.
Advertising display board controls
For the advertising display board on Lord Street/Bank Hill Frontage (if proposed as appears on the image): MOVING IMAGES: There shall be no moving images or special effects (including noise, smell, smoke, animation, flashing, scrolling, three dimensional, intermittent or video elements) of any kind during the time that any message is displayed. TRANSITION OF IMAGES: The interval between successive displays shall be instantaneous (0.1 seconds or less), the complete screen shall change, there shall be no visual effects (including fading, swiping or other animated transition methods) between successive displays and the display will include a mechanism to freeze the image in the event of a malfunction). CYCLE TIME OF IMAGES: The display shall not change more than once every 10 seconds, the use of message sequencing for the same product is prohibited and the advertisements shall not include features or equipment which would allow interactive messages or advertisements to be displayed. FAIL SAFE MECHANISM: The screen display shall be erected with a mechanism installed in order that, if the installation breaks down, it defaults to a blank black screen in order to avoid any flashing error messages or pixilation. LIGHT SENSOR: The screen display panel shall at all times be fitted with a light sensor to adjust the brightness to changes in ambient light levels. LUMINANCE LEVEL: At no time shall the Luminance level of the signs exceed the thresholds contained within the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) guidance document PLG05 - The Brightness of Illuminated Advertisements (or any subsequent amendment/replacement to this guidance). Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and highway safety.
The proposal is acceptable in highway terms... no opposition is raised subject to conditions on lighting effects, luminance levels, moving images, and fail-safe mechanisms.
has no objections.
Highways Development Control has no objection subject to detailed lighting and signage conditions for highway safety and visual amenity. Douglas Borough Council has no objections to the application.
Department of Infrastructure Highways Development Control
Conditional No ObjectionThe proposal is acceptable in highway terms with its position and size unlikely to cause disruption or an obstruction to road users providing certain conditions should be attached to permission in interests of highway and public safety plus visual amenity; Recommendation: DNOC; The proposal does not raise significant road safety or network functionality issues.
Conditions requested: NO LIGHTING EFFECTS: There shall be no lighting or special effects (including changing colours, traffic signal light colours, flashing or strobe lighting effects) of any kind during the time that any wall lights are on.; LUMINANCE LEVEL: At no time shall the Luminance level of the lighting and signs exceed the thresholds contained within the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) guidance document GN09 - Domestic Exterior Lighting (or any subsequent amendment/replacement to this guidance) and the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) guidance document PLG05 - The Brightness of Illuminated Advertisements (or any subsequent amendment/replacement to this guidance).; MOVING IMAGES: There shall be no moving images or special effects (including noise, smell, smoke, animation, flashing, scrolling, three dimensional, intermittent or video elements) of any kind during the time that any message is displayed.; TRANSITION OF IMAGES: The interval between successive displays shall be instantaneous (0.1 seconds or less), the complete screen shall change, there shall be no visual effects (including fading, swiping or other animated transition methods) between successive displays and the display will include a mechanism to freeze the image in the event of a malfunction).; CYCLE TIME OF IMAGES: The display shall not change more than once every 10 seconds, the use of message sequencing for the same product is prohibited and the advertisements shall not include features or equipment which would allow interactive messages or advertisements to be displayed.; FAIL SAFE MECHANISM: The screen display shall be erected with a mechanism installed in order that, if the installation breaks down, it defaults to a blank black screen in order to avoid any flashing error messages or pixilation.; LIGHT SENSOR: The screen display panel shall at all times be fitted with a light sensor to adjust the brightness to changes in ambient light levels.; OPTIONAL: RESTRICTION ON HOURS: The display panel shall not be in operation outside opening hours of the building (if not 24 hours a day opening).
Douglas Borough Council
No ObjectionDouglas Borough Council has no objections.
