APL Planning Statement

Richard Smith Ltd

Joiners, Building Contractors Damp & Timber Treatment Specialists

R eg Oﬃce: B allagilley, Hibernia, Maughold, Isle of Man. IM7 1EP T el: 01624 817274 | Mob: 07624 480213 V at Reg Number 002 3341 44 P lanning and Building Control Directorate D epartment of Environment, Food and Agriculture M urray House M ount Havelock D ouglas I M1 2SF 2 0 October, 2021

D ear Sirs,

R e: 28 Harcroft Avenue, Saddlestone, Douglas, IM2 1PD

W e write in support of the application, made on behalf of the property owners (Mr & Mrs Callister), to w iden the driveway at the property. We act as Agent and Contractor.

T he Site

H arcroft Avenue is a 2-way road running roughly east/west between Meadow Crescent and Harcroft R oad in Saddlestone, sloping from east to west. No28 sits roughly midway on the northern side. The P roperty comprises a residential dwelling with accommodation set out over 2 floors, with garden to the

r ear and small garden + single driveway, sloping away from the property and towards the road, to the f ront.

M ost properties in the area appear to have off street parking via driveways, however substantial on

s treet parking in the area is a feature, comprising both private and commercial vehicles. The existing d riveway comprises a 3.0m wide x 6.5m deep tarmac area on the front right of the property’s curtilage. P hotographs 1, 2 & 3 i llustrate the current access arrangements..

P roposal F ull planning approval is sought to widen the existing driveway from 3.0m to 6.7m in width. This will r educe the need for on street parking for the Applicants, improving the situation for themselves and also n eighbouring residents. The widening of the driveway will necessitate dropping of the nearside p avement and curb. The current driveway comprises a tarmac surface over (presumably) compacted

h ardcore, and the proposed widening will be carried out with a similar finish.

R ainwater currently exits onto the carriageway. While no change to this is proposed, and the widened d riveway will also allow rainwater to discharge onto the carriageway, we note the presence of a r ainwater drain on the roadside almost immediately to the upside of the current driveway (P hotograph 4

i llustrates the position of the drain, viewed from the existing driveway). This will capture the significant m ajority of increased rainwater resulting from the widened driveway, thereby preventing the application f rom causing any increased water flow onto, or damage to, the public road.

P lans are enclosed as follows:-

● A - Location Plan (1:1,250 scale)

● B - Site Plan (1:500)
● C - Existing Access/Driveway (1:200)
● D - Proposed Access/Driveway (1:200)
● E - Visibility Splays
● F - Proposed Layout with metric dimensions (1:200)

V isibility Splays

I n accordance with the “Supplementary Guidance On Highways Issues (Dec 2018)”, splays have been d rawn assuming “X” at 2.4m from the nearside edge of the carriageway. The front boundary of the p roperty has no fence or hedge, and a single palm tree currently situated in the front garden is likely to b e removed. Thus the splay drawings have assumed full visibility (above 1m) to the full left and right

b oundaries (no further since the Applicants have no control over what neighbouring property owners
c onstruct). The splays indicate that distance visibilities comfortably exceed minimum requirements.

I f you have any queries regarding this application please contact Tony Quayle (07624 388249) in the f irst instance. Y ours faithfully T ony Quayle F or and on behalf of Richard Smith Limited A s Agent for the Applicants, Mr & Mrs Callister