18 January 2005 · Minister for Local Government and the Environment (confirmed Planning Committee decision post-appeal dismissal)
Breagle Glen House, St. Marys Road, Port Erin, Isle Of Man, IM9 6jj
The proposal involved erecting a small wind turbine (6 carbon fibre blades, 1.49m diameter) on a 2m pole fixed to the gable wall of an existing garage at the rear of Breagle Glen House, a detached dwelling in a predominantly residential area.
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The Planning Committee considered the turbine's small size (1.49m diameter blades on 2m pole projecting above garage ridge), rear location, and purpose to generate electricity for one dwelling only, f…
Time limit - temporary 12 months
Approval limited to 12 months from date of decision to allow monitoring of impacts, in line with applicant's intention for temporary assessment.
no objection to the proposed development
no views, no adverse traffic impacts
Highways Division raised no objection due to no adverse traffic impacts; Port Erin Commissioners deferred initially but later confirmed approval with no stated concerns; multiple private residents objected strongly on safety, amenity, views, noise, and urban inappropriateness grounds.
Highways Division, Department of Transport
No ObjectionThe Highways Division of the Department of Transport has no views on the following application, the application having been considered and having no adverse traffic impacts.
Port Erin Commissioners
No CommentI shall be obliged if you will defer consideration of the attached applications as the Commissioners will not be in a position to consider the same until the 28th September 2004.
Port Erin Commissioners
Supportat a meeting of the Commissioners held on the 22nd February 2005 it was resolved to confirm the Board’s approval of the application.
Port Erin Commissioners
SupportAt a meeting of the Commissioners held on the 3rd May, 2005 it was resolved to confirm the Board’s approval to the application.
The original planning application (04/01841/B) for a temporary wind power generator attached to a garage at Breagle Glen House was approved by the Planning Committee on 14th January 2005 and confirmed after review on 10th March 2005, subject to a 12-month condition. Neighbour Mr Ashton Lewis appealed on behalf of his mother, raising concerns over visual impact (flickering), safety risks, and planning process flaws including premature erection. The applicant and Committee defended the small scale, low visual prominence, environmental benefits, structural safety, and lack of noise issues. The Inspector, after a public inquiry and site visit, dismissed safety and process issues as non-planning matters, found no unacceptable harm to visual amenity or noise, and recommended dismissal to uphold the approval with the 12-month condition.
Precedent Value
This appeal shows small-scale temporary renewable energy installations in residential areas can succeed if visually unobtrusive, even against neighbour opposition. Future applicants should emphasise engineering evidence, temporary status with monitoring, and site-specific low impacts, while avoiding safety arguments in planning appeals.
Inspector: John S Turner
