Officer Report

Application No.: 15/01052/B Applicant: Department Of Home Affairs Proposal: Erection of two Emergency Services storage buildings Site Address: Tromode Drill Hall Tromode Road Douglas Isle of Man IM2 5PA Case Officer : Miss S E Corlett Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report THE SITE

1.1 The site is the curtilage of the former Drill Hall which became the headquarters for the Isle of Man Water Authority and is now used for purposes including the facilities of the Department of Home Affairs, including the surrounding area, car park and fenced depot area towards the back (eastern part) of the site. The site has two cottages within the site which have recently had planning permission for conversion to offices in relation to the use of the remainder of the site. The site also includes small huts which are used by the army cadets and the site also provides access and parking to and for the Cronkbourne Cricket Pavilion and Clubhouse. - 1.2 The area of the site which is the subject of this application currently accommodates an enclosed area which is used for the storage of vehicles and equipment. THE PROPOSAL

2.1 Proposed is the erection of two new conjoined storage units, in total 25m by 32m with an eaves height of 3.2m and a ridge height of 5.4m. The buildings will be finished in profiled sheeting, colour unspecified. - 2.2 The building will be used for emergency storage space for the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). PLANNING STATUS AND POLICY

3.1 The site lies within an area designated as Government use (Area of [sic] Buildings for Civic, Cultural and other special use) on the Douglas Local Plan of 1998. This generic category includes Civil Defence, Fire Station, central and local Government and Police Headquarters - the functions of DHA). - 3.2 As the proposed use accords with the land use designation, the appropriate Strategic Plan policy is General Policy 2 as follows:

General Policy 2 states: "Development which is in accordance with the land use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development:

• b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the space around them;
• c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape;

• 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 adverse effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways and n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption." PLANNING HISTORY

4.1 The site has been the subject of a number of applications, none of which is directly relevant to the current proposal. Recently, the site has been the subject of applications for the conversion of the cottages to offices (PA 15/00957/C) , alterations to the buildings (PAs 15/00764/B, 15/00381/B and 15/00320/B). REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Department of Infrastructure Highway Services indicate that there are no highway implications (01.10.15). ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The works will not significantly change the use of the area, which will still be storage, although the appearance of the area will change, arguably for the better in that what will be seen are not the items which are being stored but a new, neat building of an industrial nature which is compatible with the character of the surrounding area. The area is not used specifically for car parking so there will not be any loss of car parking as a result of the proposal.

6.2 The scheme is considered to be acceptable and is recommended for approval. PARTY STATUS - 7.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant’s agent;
• (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested;
• (c) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material, in this case, Department of Infrastructure and (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

With effect from 1 June 2015, the Transfer of Planning & Building Control Functions Order 2015 amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 to give effect to the meaning of the word ‘Department’ to be the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture unless otherwise directed by that Order.

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 19.10.2015

Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

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.

This approval relates to drawings 01, 03, 04 and 05 all received on 17th September, 2015.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Director of Planning and Building Control in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 23.10.2015 Determining officer

Signed : M GALLAGHER Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control

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