29 April 2021 · Planning Committee
37, Circular Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 1ad
The site is a flat, hardstanding parcel previously occupied by three terraced properties demolished in 2010, currently used as a temporary car park for 14 cars. The applicant sought permission to continue this use for another 5 years due to past development intentions stalled by the 2008 financial crisis and lack of ma…
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The Planning Committee rejected the officer's refusal recommendation and unanimously approved a temporary car park use for 2 years only.
Strategic Policy 10
Requires new development to promote integrated transport minimising private car journeys, maximising public transport, ensuring highway safety, and encouraging pedestrian movement. Officer assessed proposal as contrary due to perpetuating car parking on brownfield site instead of sustainable mixed uses; committee overruled for short-term active use.
General Policy 2
Permits development in accordance with Area Plan zoning if it respects surroundings, does not adversely affect townscape character, provides amenity standards, and avoids prejudicing adjoining land. Officer found proposal harms street scene as gap site and prejudices mixed-use development; committee approved despite this for 2 years citing specific site circumstances.
Environment Policy 43
Supports regeneration of run-down areas and re-use of built fabric over demolition. Officer noted proposal entrenches underuse of brownfield site rather than regeneration; committee acknowledged conflict but permitted short term.
Transport Policy 4
Requires highways to accommodate development-generated traffic safely. Highway Services opposed as contrary to sustainable travel; committee overruled.
Transport Policy 6 - Equal weight for vehicles and pedestrians
Gives equal weight to pedestrians in development design. Officer and Highway Services found car park conflicts with this; committee overruled.
Time limit
This approval is for the use of the site for car-parking for a period of 2 years from the date of this notice and this use must cease at the expiry of this period. 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 and having regard to the nature of the proposal and the reason for approval.
No Flood Risk Management interest
Douglas Borough Council and Highways Services Division objected to the temporary car park use due to policy conflicts encouraging brownfield development over parking, while Flood Risk Management had no interest.
Key concern: use of brownfield sites as temporary carparks should be restricted to encourage alternative development
Douglas Borough Council
No ObjectionDouglas Borough Council has no objections.; The Council will be considering PA 21/00168/C ... at a meeting of its Environmental Services Committee to be held on the 15th of this month. We will provide comments on this application shortly after this date.
Douglas Borough Council
Objectionthe Committee resolved to object to the application; the use of brownfield sites as temporary carparks should be restricted to encourage the development of such sites for alternative usage other than carparks; if the application is approved for the continued use of the land as a carpark that this will do nothing to encourage the owner to develop the site; it is considered preferable for unused brownfield sites to be developed as opposed to becoming carparks
Highways Services Division
ObjectionHighway Services oppose this proposal being contrary to IOM Strategic Plan Strategic Policy 10 and Transport Polices 4 and 6; Recommendation: O
Flood Risk Management Division
No CommentNFRMI; No Flood Risk Management interest
