KSi Hawk Planning Statement

Planning Committee Secretary DoLGE Murray House, Mount Havelock Douglas

Proposed Change Of Use From Residential To Residential & Office

The Rowans, Quine'S Hill, Port Soderick

ON BEHALF OF KSi HAWK LTD

KSi Hawk Ltd is a small trust and corporate services provider. It employs 4 full-time staff based in the Isle of Man. KSi Hawk is a hub for several other offices and a satellite office for businesses based in other jurisdictions. Any future business expansion will not require an increase in staff at this site.

The nature of KSi Hawk is such that all work is computer / Internet / e-mail based and any post is via normal postal service. Employees work from 9am – 5pm. There are no visitors to the office.

KSi Hawk are investors in people and deem the welfare of their staff to be of utmost importance. The work undertaken by the staff can be of a particularly intense and time sensitive nature and therefore it is essential that the workspace be a stress free environment within a quality amenity space. The current office environment is oppressive and one which would be extremely costly to rectify; in any event the lease expires on 1st June 2007

Having discussed the office position with all members of staff, it has been the overwhelming decision that working outside of Douglas town would be the most preferred, whilst ensuring that the office remained accessible and convenient for all staff members and within the ability of Manx Telecom to provide the level of load that the firm requires. They have for some considerable time being looking for suitable alternative premises within their budget limitations and with a layout that may be adapted to their requirements without the need for any conversion. However, nothing suitable has come to light in the past 2 years.

The Rowans, Quine’s Hill, Port Soderick suits all of their requirements having one large room in which 3 members of staff may work together - this is a necessity for the type of

Initial	RODSE	1917107PM
Appeal	Ref	31.10.07
Amended
Returned	23rd April 2007

work undertaken - a separate office for the Managing Director and a boardroom where all staff may meet. Other rooms are used for filing, post and computer server equipment. The Managing Director is required to travel extensively for business meetings and marketing. Coupled with the heavy workload he is required to undertake, it is anticipated that one room will be maintained as a bedroom for his use on a regular basis.

Manx Telecom has confirmed to KSi Hawk that Port Soderick is one of the villages where the firm's requirements would be met.

Externally there is a double garage and large paved area which together would be adequate parking for 4 cars and enable turning within the site. As there are no visitors to the business the level of usage of the access would be no more than might be expected for an average family occupying the 4/5 bedroom property as the premises currently stands. Access is onto the Old Castletown Road within the 30mph limit.

The property is detached and surrounded by bushes and planting with a further paved area to the rear. Its use as an office would not detract from the amenity of the neighbourhood. There are already other offices in the village.

It is noted that within the Braddan Parish Plan February 2003 provision is made for office development out of Douglas and this small scale proposal by KSi Hawk would fit into this category.