2 March 2004 · Planning Committee
Field 530927, Ballacreetch Farm Ballanard Road Abbeylands Douglas
The proposal was for a new 160 square metre single-storey bungalow on a field within the 168-acre Ballacreetch Farm holding, to replace a derelict former cottage near existing farm buildings. It followed an expired approval in principle (PA 00/1251) granted in 2001 primarily due to the needs of the applicant's elderly …
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 Planning Committee refused the application because the approval in principle under PA 00/1251 had expired on 27 July 2003, and this detailed application was submitted afterwards on 4 August 2003, …
Policy O/RES/P/22 (Onchan Local Plan)
Policy prohibits new dwellings outside areas designated for residential development, particularly in rural areas protected by Planning Circular 1/88, with the entire countryside in the district designated as high landscape value per Island Strategic Plan Eastern Sector (Planning Circular 9/91). The officer assessed the proposal as unwarranted countryside development lacking agricultural justification, failing the strict policy tests now that original personal circumstances had changed.
no adverse traffic impacts subject to conditions
approved for planning purposes only
DOT Highways offered conditional no objection requiring access and visibility splay conditions; Onchan District Commissioners supported approval; Isle of Man Water Authority and Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside and Environment objected due to water supply capacity and landscape impact.
Key concern: insufficient capacity at Glencrutchery Water Treatment Works to guarantee potable water supply
Department of Transport Highways Division
Conditional No ObjectionNo adverse traffic impacts, subject to the imposition of the following conditions; In the interests of road safety.
Conditions requested: No other works shall be commenced on site until the access with the adopted highway, including visibility splays, has been set out and established to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority after consultation with the Highway Authority.
Onchan District Commissioners
SupportThe Commissioners would recommend that the application be APPROVED for planning purposes only.
Isle of Man Water Authority
ObjectionThe Isle of Man Water Authority hereby lodges an OBJECTION to the above planning application.; The current capacity of the Glencrutchery Water Treatment Works is such that we cannot guarantee a supply of fresh potable water to the premises and/or development described above.
Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside and Environment
ObjectionThis is an extension to the existing building in an area of high landscape value. We oppose this application.
The original approval in principle (PA 00/1251) for a bungalow was granted in 2001 on appeal, primarily to accommodate the appellant's mother, a retired farm worker, under exceptional circumstances per Planning Circular 3/88. This expired in July 2003, and the detailed application (03/0985/B) was submitted shortly after and refused by the Planning Committee in 2003, confirmed on review in 2004. Appellant argued ongoing benefits including better farm supervision and maintenance issues with the existing large farmhouse. The Planning Committee defended refusal citing changed circumstances (mother's death), no overriding agricultural justification, and conflict with countryside protection policies like O/RES/P/22. Inspector R E Wilson, following a public inquiry on 20 July 2004, concluded that convenience arguments did not justify an exception to countryside policies and recommended dismissal on 21 August 2004.
Precedent Value
Demonstrates that exceptional personal circumstances (e.g., retired farm worker accommodation) can override countryside restrictions, but such permissions lapse and cannot be renewed on convenience alone. Future applicants must demonstrate current, robust agricultural justification tied to policy exceptions.
Inspector: R E Wilson
