24 November 2006 · Director of Planning and Building Control (M. I. McCauley)
Methodist Church, Arbory Street, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 1ln
The proposal involved removing an existing chimney on the rear gable of the Methodist Church Hall on Arbory Street and replacing the roof with Welsh slate. The site is within Castletown Conservation Area, and the building is considered of registerable quality with historical significance dating back to around 1801.
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The officer assessed the proposal against Conservation Area policies, balancing maintenance benefits against the statutory duty to preserve the building's character.
Identification of Special Character
Policy CA/1 states that the quality and interest of areas, rather than individual buildings, is the prime consideration in Conservation Areas. The officer assessed the chimney's role in the skyline and character, finding its removal detrimental despite maintenance benefits. Tension arose from applicant's tidying objectives versus preservation duty.
Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Policy CA/2 (Conservation Areas)
Policy CA/2 requires considering the impact of proposals on the special character of Conservation Areas, per the Town and Country Planning Act 1999. The Conservation Officer applied this to chimney removal, deeming it harmful to both building and area character. Castletown Local Plan policies (paragraphs 9.3, 9.4, 9.9, 9.16) reinforced need to preserve and enhance the area through maintenance without harmful alterations.
