21 July 2006 · Minister for Local Government and the Environment
Pedestrianisation Project, North Quay, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 1ew
The proposal by Department of Transport aimed to enhance North Quay with high-quality materials like York stone flags, block paving, and conservation setts, creating a one-way vehicle route, cycleway, footways, loading/disabled bays, and wider pedestrian areas while removing 64 disc and 35 pay & display parking spaces.…
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The Minister concurred with the appointed inspector's report that loss of on-street parking was a material planning consideration due to impacts on church viability, businesses, and area function, des…
Time limit
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Approved plans
Subject to the other conditions of this notice, this approval relates to drawings numbered P0/05 Rev.A, /15 Rev A, /20 Rev A, /23, /24 Rev A, /25, and /26 Rev A, all date-stamped 13th April 2006.
Surface treatments and street furniture
Details or samples of all surface treatments and street furniture must be submitted to and approved by the Department prior to any use thereof.
Historic features protection/salvage
Prior to commencement, meet Conservation Officer and submit/approved proposals for salvage/protection/retention of highway features and protection of adjacent Registered Building fabric; works per approved proposals.
Phase 2 parking mitigation
Phase 2 and subsequent phase shall not begin until details approved concerning arrangements for making available parking in Shaw's Brow car-park and provision of additional on-street parking on North Quay between Market Hill and Parade Street roundabout.
No objection but concerns on parking loss; discussions ongoing for Shaw's Brow residents parking
Compatible with Lower Douglas Transport Study; meets DoT policies after safety audit
Ensure dropped kerbs, tactile paving, clear delineation in shared surfaces; 5% common parking as disabled
Multiple public objections focus on loss of on-street parking impacting church users, businesses, and elderly visitors, while statutory consultees including DoT Highways and Douglas authorities raise no objections with some conditions and concerns noted.
Key concern: loss of on-street parking impacting church, businesses, and public access
DoT Highways Division
No ObjectionThe proposed development is compatible with the Lower Douglas Transport study findings to date.; This development meets the Department of Transport current policies and business plan in all these aspects
Conditions requested: full independent safety audit
Douglas Drainage Services
No ObjectionDouglas Corporation acting as The Agent for the Department of Transport, under the Sewerage Act 1999 has no objection in principle
Conditions requested: NO discharge of surface water (directly or indirectly) from this proposed development to any foul drainage system(s); liaise closely with the Borough of Douglas Drainage Department prior and during the contract period to ensure that access to the sewer system is maintained at all times; Raising of manhole covers and frames must be carried out in accordance with the Borough of Douglas Drainage Department requirements; New manhole cover and frames must conform to Department of Transport ‘Manx Sewers for Adoption’; Note recessed manhole covers in-filled with paviors/flagstones are NOT permitted
Douglas Borough Highways
No ObjectionDouglas Corporation have no objection to the proposals
Douglas Corporation
Conditional No Objectionthe committee agreed not to raise an objection to the application; discussions between the applicant and Douglas Corporation regarding the use of Shaws Brow car park for residents parking are still at an early stage
Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside and Environment
ObjectionThe Society OBJECTS.; Is this part of a “Don’t come to Douglas” project?
The original application by the Department of Transport for highway improvements including resurfacing, cycleway, and removal of 99 on-street parking spaces on North Quay was permitted by the Planning Committee on 21 July 2006. The appellant, representing St Matthew's Church, appealed on grounds of severe impact on church and hall use due to parking loss, affecting elderly, children, and cultural activities. The Planning Committee defended the decision focusing on conservation area benefits, deeming parking a highway matter. The inspector ruled parking loss a material planning consideration, found the scheme beneficial for conservation area character and sustainable transport, but recommended design revisions for additional parking and securing Shaw’s Brow car park access before Phase 2. The Minister agreed with the inspector’s recommendation per para 28, upholding permission with extra conditions.
Precedent Value
This appeal sets precedent that on-street parking loss from highway development in conservation areas is a material planning consideration with planning consequences for land uses. Future applicants/third parties should provide site-specific user evidence and propose mitigations like phased conditions for alternative parking to secure approvals.
Inspector: Andrew D Kirby RD* MA MSc FRTPI
