Loading document...
Fit-Out of Storage Bays, Beneath Seating Sections 4 & 5 for Multi-Purpose Use At the TT Grandstand, Nobles Park, Douglas, IoM.
For the IoM Government Department of Tourism & Leisure
Kay Associates Ltd Chartered Architects
1.1 The TT Races are a major annual event for the Isle of Man, and a major source of income. In 2007 the TT races will celebrate their Centenary. The TT Grandstand is the focus of the races, it being the Start/Finish line, and the focus for TT operations. In order to provide enhanced facilities at the Grandstand, both for the Centenary festival and for the future, the Department of Tourism and Leisure wish to fit out the existing storage bays located beneath seating areas 4 & 5 of the TT Grandstand.
1.2 The existing storage bays are currently unsightly, with no proper floor construction, no formal means of security, and with little or no services such as lighting, electricity or water. Accordingly, the area has been under-used, becoming a temporary and longer term storage area for a disparate array of items such as dustbins, temporary signage, cables etc. and has become an eye-sore.
1.3 In addition to the usage for the TT, the Grandstand area is also used for the Manx Grand Prix, two Car Rally events, Cycle week, The Conister Motor Show, and the Hockey week. In addition to the above, various smaller events take place within the area, for which short term usage of the Grandstand is made.
2.1 To improve the visual appearance of the area, to fully utilise the existing TT Grandstand and to provide facilities for the TT and other such events, the applicant, the Department of Tourism and Leisure, are seeking permission to enclose the front of the existing storage bays, and to fit-out the resulting internal areas for multi-purpose use.
2.2 The DTL currently expect the possible uses of the units to encompass some or all of the following possibilities;
2.3 The Proposal to fit-out the existing bays will allow the DTL to provide enhanced facilities at the Grandstand for the 2007 TT Festival and beyond, either for use by the officials and race organisers, or for short term let to other government departments, event sponsors, participating teams, or local businesses. Such use would normally be carried out around main event times, but may vary in terms of the required use for each unit.
2.4 As a result of the wide range of possible uses for the fitted out units, it is not possible to tie the application down to one specific use classification, as by its very nature, the use of the proposal has to be flexible to allow/accommodate the varying demands made of the Grandstand. It is however, the case that all likely uses will be related to the planning, implementation, running or aftermath of events based around the Grandstand and its’ surrounding area.
2.5 The proposal is contained to the rear of the TT Grandstand, and as such, neither proposes nor requires any additional access points on to the TT course. All access to the proposed units, either during event times or outside event times will be taken from the existing means of access, which is via the Nobles Park complex. The existing service access and distribution roadway which runs to the rear of the TT Grandstand is unaffected by the proposals, and will be the direct point of access to and from the units.
3.0 DESIGN CONCEPT
3.1 The design concept for the fit out of the units is based on providing the maximum available options for the use of the individual bays created from the existing area. In order to facilitate this, a system has been proposed which provides glazed frontages to the bays consisting of fixed panels on either side of centrally located glazed sectional up and over access doors. The fixed panels are provided with traditional single swing glazed doors providing access to and from the units with the sectional up and over doors shut. This allows the use of the bays either for retail, café or office type facilities in inclement weather conditions or at times of low temperatures. However, the sectional doors when operated would allow an open frontage out onto the paved areas in front of the individual units, thus allowing maximum space for internal and external display for café/retail/promotional type usages.
3.2 The use of the sectional doors in this manner also extends the potential use of the storage bays, by allowing vehicular movement into and out of the units. This facilitates the use of the bays for short term storage/display of vehicles and also facilitates increased revenue opportunities particularly at times such as the TT and Grand Prix and for the Motor Show, when sponsors and businesses may wish to utilise such units for sales and promotional opportunities. The use of substantially glazed screens and doors to the front of each bay maximises potential of natural light into the units and natural ventilation.
3.3 In addition to the above, new windows are proposed at the rear of each unit to provide natural daylight to the rear. These windows face on to the pit lane, and therefore have been proposed to be glazed in fire resistant glazing following discussions with the senior fire safety officer at the IoM Fire & Rescue Service.
4.1 The proposal for the TT Grandstand fit-out development represents a key element of the Department of Tourism & Leisure’s preparations for the 2007 TT centenary festival. As such, the DTL would ask that the Planning Committee consider the information contained within the above statement when determining the application.
Copyright in submitted documents remains with their authors. Request removal
View as Markdown