8 December 2021 · Delegated - Head of Development Management (Stephen Butler)
International Business School, The Nunnery, Old Castletown Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 1qb
The proposal involves erecting four illuminated sculptures as landscaping features within The Nunnery estate on Old Castletown Road, Douglas, a site with a mansion used as a campus, chapel, priory remains, woodlands, and grassland.
Click a button above to find applications similar to this one.
See how this application compares to similar ones — policies, conditions, and outcomes side by side.
The officer assessed the proposal against impacts on landscape character and wildlife, concluding no negative effect due to the site's location below the public highway and shielded by woodlands, maki…
General Policy 2
Requires development in line with Area Plan zoning, respecting site/surroundings in siting/layout/scale/design, not adversely affecting landscape character or protected wildlife/habitats. Officer found proposal complies as sculptures screened by woodland, invisible from public views, and wildlife impacts mitigated.
Environment Policy 4
Prohibits development adversely affecting protected species/habitats of national/local importance, including Wildlife Sites. Site near potential Wildlife Site; bat survey addressed bat habitat concerns from lighting.
Environment Policy 5
In exceptional cases affecting ENV4 sites, requires conditions to minimise disturbance, conserve ecology, and mitigate losses. Lighting condition applied to protect bats per bat survey recommendations.
Environment Policy 22
Prohibits development causing unacceptable light pollution harming environment/amenity. Condition requires approved lighting plan to avoid unacceptable light pollution to bats.
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.
Lighting plan approval
The sculptures hereby approved shall not be illuminated unless in accordance with a lighting plan which has first been approved in writing by the Department. Reason: to protect bats by avoiding unacceptable light pollution.
no objection; no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network efficiency and/or parking
bat survey report acceptable; recommend lighting conditioned to comply with bat survey if approved (after initial request for more info)
DEFA Biodiversity raised concerns about light pollution impacting bats and a nearby Wildlife Site but confirmed no objection after bat survey submission, recommending specific lighting conditions; Highways Division had no objections throughout.
Key concern: potential light pollution from up-lighting disturbing bats near Wildlife Site
DEFA Biodiversity
Conditional No ObjectionThough the Ecosystem Policy Team have no objection to the installation of the statues around the Nunnery, we are concerned about the potential light pollution; The location of the Two Ballerinas statue is of most concern; Bats are listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act 1990; Ideally, I request that either the lighting element of the Two Ballerinas statue is entirely removed, or the statue be moved
Conditions requested: bat survey of areas where statues are to be erected in line with Bat Conservation Trust's Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists - Good Practice Guidelines (3rd Edition 2016) by suitably qualified ecologist, with report including lighting mitigation submitted for approval prior to determination; lighting element of Two Ballerinas statue entirely removed or statue moved, or up-lighting reconsidered for down-lighting with plans for agreement prior to decision; information about area of impact of up-lighting for additional 3 statues to ensure no detrimental impact, submitted for agreement prior to decision; updated plans to evidence no adverse effect on species/habitats per Environment Policy 4 of Isle of Man Strategic Plan
DEFA Biodiversity
No ObjectionThe Ecosystem Policy Team confirm that the Bat Survey Report dated 25th October 2020 by the Manx Bat Group, is all in order; prior to determination of this application, we request that the applicant provides up to date proposed site plans
Conditions requested: applicant provides up to date proposed site plans prior to determination
DEFA Biodiversity
Conditional No ObjectionThe Ecosystem Policy Team can confirm that the bat survey report dated 25th October 2020 undertaken by the Manx Bat Group, is all in order and a suitable level of assessment has been undertaken; Should this application be approved, we recommend that the measures detailed in section 5 ‘Statue lighting’ of the bat survey report are secured as a condition on approval
Conditions requested: measures detailed in section 5 ‘Statue lighting’ of the bat survey report secured as a condition: all lighting of statues in line with Bat Conservation Trust Bats and artificial lighting notes (2018) and Eurobats guide on bats and artificial lighting 2018; low powered LEDs matching colour, temperature, lumens recommendations; lights angled towards statues away from trees/hedges avoiding upward spill; lighting only on when required and off at night
Department of Infrastructure Highways Division
No ObjectionDo not oppose; DNO on 23 April 20
Highway Services
No ObjectionHighway Services note the additional information and continue not to oppose this proposal; After reviewing this Application, Highway Services find it to have no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network efficiency and /or parking
