28 July 2006 · Director of Planning and Building Control (M. I. McCauley); refusal upheld by Minister via appeal inspector
17, Cronkbourne Village, Cronkbourne, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM4 4qg
The proposal involved replacing existing draughty timber front doors on a terrace of six single-storey registered dwellings in Cronkbourne Village, an historic industrial village, with aluminium doors designed to match the boarded timber appearance for better weatherproofing, insulation, and security.
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The officer assessed the proposal against Policy RB/5 of Planning Policy Statement 1/01, concluding that aluminium doors, despite matching the pattern, were inappropriate for the registered buildings …
Recommend approval
no objections
Braddan Parish Commissioners recommended approval of the door replacement application, while Manx National Heritage and Isle of Man Victorian Society objected due to the use of aluminium doors on registered buildings, recommending timber alternatives instead.
Key concern: replacement of timber doors with aluminium inappropriate for registered buildings
Braddan Parish Commissioners
SupportThe Commissioners would recommend to the Planning Committee that the application be approved.
Manx National Heritage
Objectionnotwithstanding the fact that the existing doors are not original, we believe that the replacement of timber doors in aluminium is inappropriate.; We believe that it should be possible to specify a vertically boarded hardwood door, with insulation on the internal face if necessary, which if properly maintained will not be subject to undue dimensional variation.
Conditions requested: vertically boarded hardwood door, with insulation on the internal face if necessary
Isle of Man Victorian Society
ObjectionWe write to register our objection to the proposals as outlined above.; when it comes to the visual parts these should be in original materials and replacements should be as near the original design as possible.; the application should therefore be refused.
Conditions requested: use of marine ply with V grooves routed into the surface to simulate the boarding; draft proofing can be fitted to the frame; replacements should be as near the original design as possible
The original applications sought to replace existing front timber doors with aluminium doors of similar boarded appearance on six single-storey dwellings in a registered building terrace (RB 92), justified by improved weather-tightness, insulation, security, and maintenance for elderly residents. The Planning Committee refused on grounds that aluminium was an inappropriate modern material for a registered building, citing Policy RB/5 and objections from the Conservation Officer, Isle of Man Victorian Society, and Manx National Heritage. The appellant argued the doors were not original, rear aluminium doors were already approved, the proposed doors faithfully reproduced the current ones, and registration protected form and grouping rather than details. The inspector acknowledged practical benefits of aluminium but concluded on balance that it would erode the historic character due to differences in texture and machined appearance, dismissing the appeal despite noting prior rear door approval was not a strong precedent.
Precedent Value
Appeals for modern materials on registered buildings must demonstrate no harm to historic character beyond utility; prior approvals for less prominent areas (e.g. rears) do not set precedent for street-facing elements where texture and authenticity matter.
Inspector: Terrence Kemmann-Lane
