24 August 2021 · Planning Committee
Old Catholic School Site, Albert Road, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 1dg
Gecko Investments Limited applied to use a vacant plot of land next to the Co Op supermarket in Ramsey town centre as a temporary car park for 30 vehicles, including 3 disabled bays, accessed from an adjacent existing car park.
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The officer concluded the proposal conflicted with Council of Ministers policy in the Action Plan to Reform the Planning System (Programme for Government 2016-2021), which states 'Planning Approval sh…
Strategic Policy 1
Requires prioritising brownfield redevelopment for economic development. Officer assessed that temporary car park would reduce likelihood of site being brought forward, directly conflicting with policy aim.
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect site/surroundings in scale/form/design, not adversely affect townscape character or amenity. Proposal failed as temporary car park would detrimentally impact street scene from Albert Road/Queens Pier Road, highlighting 'gap site' and giving neglected appearance.
Strategic Policy 10
Promotes integrated transport minimising private car journeys, encouraging public transport/pedestrians. Temporary car park conflicted by expanding car use in town centre with good public transport links and nearby parking.
Transport Policy 4
Requires highways to accommodate development traffic safely. Layout acceptable for traffic increase but needed revisions for circulation/pedestrians; overall refused on other grounds.
Transport Policy 6 - Equal weight for vehicles and pedestrians
Prioritises pedestrian needs. Proposal lacked designated paths/signage; Highway Services recommended improvements but policy conflict on principle prevailed.
Environment Policy 43
Supports regeneration of run-down urban areas via re-use rather than temporary uses. Brownfield site use as car park discouraged permanent regeneration.
no objection
Highways initially requested additional information and revisions due to policy concerns and layout issues but later issued Do Not Oppose subject to conditions after amendments; Ramsey Town Commissioners had no objection but raised observations on disabled parking location and fencing, later reiterating no objection.
Key concern: Contrary to Ministerial policy on brownfield sites for temporary car parks
Department of Infrastructure Highways
Conditional No ObjectionRecommendation: Additional information and revisions.; The proposal does not raise significant road safety or highway network efficiency issues. Yet, it is contrary to policy.
Conditions requested: Additional details of car park assessment and intended users; Designated path to link to Albert Road signal controlled crossing; Maintenance path/strip along western side of Co-op building to be retained; Signage details; Electric vehicle charging points at 10% of provision with one for disabled bay; Short stay bicycle parking
Department of Infrastructure Highways
Conditional No ObjectionRecommendation: DNO; Should the proposal go forward, we raise no objection subject to conditions for the layout to accord with Proposed Temporary Parking Site Plan Rev A , a restriction for temporary use plus pre usage requirement for signage details.; DNO - Do not oppose
Conditions requested: Layout to accord with Proposed Temporary Parking Site Plan Rev A; Restriction for temporary use of 12 months; Pre-usage requirement for signage details
Ramsey Town Commissioners
No ObjectionWhilst Ramsey Town Commissioners have no objection to this proposal, they wish to submit an observation.; they felt that the relocation of the disabled spaces were too far away from the store entrance
Conditions requested: Disabled spaces located as close to original spaces as possible; Fencing erected between car park and Albert Street
Ramsey Town Commissioners
No ObjectionWhilst Ramsey Town Commissioners have no objection to this proposal, they wish to submit an observation.; Ramsey Town Commissioners have no objection to this application and would like to see the car parking remain until such time as the owner of the site submit plans for redevelopment.
9 Westbourne Close resident
In my opinion, the minimum 6 metre gap between parking space rows indicated...causes a number of issues; all points could be clearly and best addressed by removing parking spaces 18 and 19 and creating a one-way clockwise seamless flow of traffic
Conditions requested: Appropriate and clear signage with follow-up action; Remove parking spaces 18 and 19 for one-way clockwise flow
