Siting of a mobile classroom unit, erection of a covered canopy and creation of a staff car park and a vehicular drop off point

Refusal Reasons

• ✗The creation of the car park would involve the construction of steps from the car park into the school grounds. Whilst the applicant has explained that this pedestrian thoroughfare would be used only by staff, the Planning Committee is not persuaded that there could be supervision and control of this such as to prevent general use of this pedestrian access both during and outwith school hours. As such, this, together with the additional traffic which would use Sandringham Drive as a result of the new car park would significantly change the character of Sandringham Drive, from a quiet cul de sac to a much busier route for both pedestrians and motor vehicles.
• ✗The Planning Committee is not persuaded that sufficient provision has been made for the protection of the privacy and amenities of the occupants of both Number 18 Sandringham Drive and 18 School Road in terms of the noise, general disturbance and visual intrusion which the use of the car park may generate.
• ✗The Planning Committee is not persuaded that sufficient provision has been made for the security of the site specifically in terms of the through routes which will be created by the proposed new access to Sandringham Drive to the school.
• ✗It is clear from the information provided both initially and particularly at the review hearing that there is no immediate provision for the creation of a permanent pre-school facility. As such, the temporary structure proposed and approved initially would be likely to be in place longer than the temporary period allowed in the initial approval. The Planning Committee is not persuaded that, due to the temporary appearance of the building and its prominent location that this would be acceptable other than for this initial temporary period of four years.
• ✗In view of the concerns in respect of the staff car parking and pre-school facility, the Planning Committee is not prepared to permit the creation of the lay by off School Road. In addition, this facility would remove part of the children's playing field whilst there would appear to be little requirement for the drop-off facility as parents and others who drop children off to the school and collect them utilise the community centre car park with the full approval of the Onchan District Commissioners who own and control it. As such, the Committee consider therefore that the utilisation of this space for something which is not needed, or certainly of less pressing need than the pre-school facilities or the staff car park is not appropriate.