20 October 2021 · Planning Committee
Hampton Court, Quines Hill, Port Soderick, Isle Of Man, IM4 1az
The proposal involves constructing a large portal frame equestrian building with an indoor arena (1000m²) and integrated stables/store (186m²), finished in blockwork, vertical timber cladding and composite roofing, sited 70m northwest of the Queen Anne style Hampton Court mansion on 4.19 acres of agricultural fields.
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 countryside development exceptions in GP3(f) for essential agricultural/equestrian buildings, finding justified personal need for 2-3 competition horses as ev…
General Policy 3
Permits countryside development exceptionally for buildings essential to agriculture/forestry/equestrian. Officer found equestrian need outweighed general restrictions via personal use justification and no prejudice to adjoining land (GP2k).
Environment Policy 1
Protects countryside unless overriding need with no alternative. Proposal's limited visual impact, functional design and mitigations satisfied protection tests despite unzoned white land.
Environment Policy 21
Prohibits equestrian buildings detrimental to countryside character via siting/design/size/finish; requires purpose-specific form avoiding cavity walls. Portal frame, timber/metal finishes, 30x40m scale for private arena/stables, sited near house/trees deemed sympathetic.
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect site/surroundings in scale/form/design/landscape, no adverse landscape/amenity/highway impact. Siting, low profile, materials, tree retention/planting, distant neighbours and no highway objection met multiple sub-tests (b,c,d,f,g,h,i).
Environment Policy 15
Permits ag/equestrian buildings near existing groups if scale/materials sympathetic; exceptional isolation with landscaping. Siting 70m from house/adjacent trees, conditioned materials/landscaping justified despite isolation.
Environment Policy 19
Requires no loss of Class 1/2 ag land and highway accommodation. Class 3/4 A3 soils (poor quality, nutrient deficient) and small footprint on 4.19 acres posed no prejudice.
Time limit
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Private equestrian use only
The arena hereby approved must only be used for private equestrian purposes in association with the residential dwelling 'Hampton Court, Quines Hill and not for any commercial use or private livery use.
Tied to Hampton Court
The indoor equestrian arena and stables hereby approved shall be used only in connection with Hampton Court for equestrian purposes and may not be let out separately therefrom.
Removal if use ceases
In the event that the building hereby approved is not used or required for agricultural or equestrian purposes for a period exceeding 12 months, the arena buildings hereby approved shall be removed and the ground restored to its former condition within 18 months of its last use.
No external storage
There shall be no external storage of plant, machinery, materials or vehicles outside of the building identified on the approved drawings, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Department.
Dark green roof
The external roof on the new arena building must be a dark green colour and retained thereafter.
Tree protection plan
Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, a tree protection plan for retained trees in accordance with BS5837:2012 showing construction exclusion zones, the precise location and specification of protection fencing/ground protection measures, and places where signage will be erected shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department and shall be fully installed and implemented and retained for the duration of the construction process, unless stated otherwise.
Tree planting plan
No site clearance, preparatory work or development shall take place until a tree planting plan, which also includes details of planting/banking to northwest of the equestrian building - taking the overhead cables into account, is submitted to and agreed in writing by the Department. Where applicable the plan shall adhere to the recommendations of BS8545:2014 (Trees: from nursery to independence in the landscape - recommendations) and in all cases shall include the following details: (a) the exact location, species, nursery specification and planting specification of each tree (or group of trees) to be planted. Where groups or larger areas are to be planted please state the area and planting density. (b) the approximate date when they are to be planted (c) how they will be maintained until successfully established. The tree planting shall take place as agreed and any trees which, within a period of 5 years from their first planting, are removed, or, in the opinion of the Department, become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Department gives written consent to any variation.
No external lighting
For the avoidance of doubt no approval is hereby given for any external lighting to be installed to or on the arena.
no objection
do not object
Multiple responses include objections from private neighbours and initial objections from DEFA Senior Arboricultural Officer and DEFA Biodiversity on tree removal and ecological impacts, later softened by Arboricultural Officer to conditional no objection after amended plans; Braddan Parish Commissioners had no objection.
Key concern: Tree removal and lack of arboricultural/ecological assessments in High Landscape and Scenic Significance area
Ballachrink (private objector)
ObjectionThe proposed indoor arena is a staggering 1500 square meters, dwarfing Hampton Court; The proposal is grossly ill conceived and serves only to damage both Hampton Court the surrounding landscape; There will be a presumption against large scale equestrian developments... unless there are exceptional circumstances
Senior Arboricultural Officer, Agriculture & Lands Directorate, DEFA
Conditional No ObjectionDrawing 426-01revB says that trees will be protected in accordance with BS5837:2012 but it provides 2 methods for determining the position of protective fencing to protect the retained trees, neither of which comply with the recommendations of that standard; The only way you can know whether the fencing is in a ‘correct’ position... is if a full arboricultural impact assessment (AIA) is provided
Conditions requested: A tree protection plan for retained trees, prepared in accordance with BS5837:2012 showing construction exclusion zones, the precise location and specification of protection fencing/ground protection measures, and places where signage will be erected
Braddan Parish Commissioners
No ObjectionThe Commissioners considered the planning applications below at their last meeting on 9 September and I can confirm that they had no objection
DEFA Ecosystem Policy Team
ObjectionThe Ecosystem Policy Team object to this planning application as currently presented; There is a large improved field here that could more than accommodate the new buildings
Conditions requested: Equivalent replacement native broadleaved tree planting detailed within a replanting mitigation plan; Erection of integrated bat and bird nest bricks on the new buildings – plans should be provided showing the location, amount and specifications of the bricks; Supporting tree information and ecological mitigation details should be provided prior to determination
Beaconsfield Farm (private objector)
ObjectionWe refer to inaccuracies in this application with regard to inclusion of trees to be retained which have already been felled
