Rebuttal Statement McGarrigle Architects
1863.01
PA 22/00157/B - Creation of a lower ground floor apartment
Atholville, 3 - 4 Castle Drive, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 4LX
Rebuttal Statement
In paragraph 6.6 regarding potential amenity of future occupants the Planning Officer says
"The windows being to the north elevation and the suns orientation (east to west) will also result in a very dark environment with the kitchen/lounge area to the rear of the main room relaying solely on artificial light, given any limited natural light provided through the bay windows, will be lost at those points."
The Planning Officer provides no qualitative or empirical evidence to lend support to his view. Without supporting evidence his statement is simply his opinion on the potential quality of light within the interior rooms – it is not the reality.
The Applicant has prepared a daylight calculation to provide supporting evidence that the level of daylighting within the interior rooms will be at a good level. The daylight explanation, modelling and calculations are set out clearly in Appendices A, B and C. The calculations result in a daylight factor of 5.4% and when compared to the scale of Daylight Factor percentages this is just into the "cheerfully daylit in absence of sunlight" sector and above the "well daylit in general" sector. Therefore, the calculation proves the internal room will be well illuminated by daylight.
Photographs 1 and 2 in the Appendix D clearly shows a lightly coloured and bright light well (1) and a bright interior to the kitchen/dining/lounge room (2). This is the reality. This clearly reinforces the daylight calculation result above and shows the internal room will be well illuminated by daylight, for future occupants.
Conclusion:
The daylight calculation and the photographs prove without doubt that the Planning Officer's statement is without evidence and is wrong. The internal rooms will be well illuminated by daylight. Therefore, the Applicant respectfully requests that the Appointed Person overturns the Planning Officers decision and grant approval to this application.
