Conservation Officer Site Assessment

This application is for the provision of 25 apartments with parking to basement and refurbishment of existing adjacent building to provide two shops or office units with duplex apartments over. The scheme is prominently located on the corner of Main Road and Royal Avenue in the Onchan Conservation Area. Of interest within this scheme is the retention of the building known as Royal Buildings on the very corner. This is arguably one of Armitage Rigby's finest buildings on the Island and a building suggested for inclusion on the protected buildings register. Mr Rigby was a contemporary of Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott. The former scheme 03/00622/GB only retained the façade of the building whereas this scheme retains the building essentially in its entirety, to my mind, a major enhancement. In addition, the re-designed elevations on to Royal Avenue and especially Main Road are a major enhancement to the Onchan Conservation Area over the original application. Recommendations: Approval 1. Prior to the commencement of any works, the applicant's are to carry out a full photographic survey of the Royal Buildings to be provided to the Department's Conservation Officer. 2. Prior to the commencement of any works, details of the shopfront / Office façade to the Royal Buildings onto Royal Avenue are to be approved by the Planning Committee. Steve Moore 1/11/05