4 April 2023 · Council of Ministers
Swiss Chalet, Glen Helen, St. Johns, Isle Of Man, IM4 3np
The Swiss House is a restaurant and residential building in Glen Helen woodland, damaged by fire and now closed. The proposal involves like-for-like replacement of the first-floor balcony, single-glazed windows with double-glazed timber units, guttering, downpipes, fascias, and the roof (with new battens, membrane, and…
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The inspector assessed the main consideration as the effect on the character and appearance of the area, noting from the site visit that the building needs refurbishment post-fire.
Environment Policy 3
Prohibits development causing unacceptable loss or damage to woodland areas with public amenity or conservation value. Assessed as no trees harmed by works to existing structure.
General Policy 3
Restricts development outside zoned areas except for specific exceptions like works for countryside interpretation. Site not zoned for development but proposal justified as reinstatement supporting recreational facility use, aligning with policy exceptions.
Environment Policy 1
Protects countryside from adverse effects unless overriding national need and no alternative. Proposal found acceptable as no harm to character/appearance and supports recreational strategy.
Environment Policy 4
Protects species/habitats of international, national, and local importance. Bat survey showed no evidence of bats; condition for bat boxes addresses potential and promotes biodiversity.
Time limit
The development hereby approved shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision. Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.
Bat boxes
Prior to commencement details of bat boxes to be installed need to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The development shall not be carried out unless in accordance with the approved details. Reason: in the interest of ecology
Concerned about potential presence of bats and requested bat survey; subsequently satisfied with assessment and recommended bat provision by condition.
Proposal is reinstatement after fire with minimal impact; suitable tile details submitted; no trees harmed; supports recreational use of woodland in line with DEFA and Sport strategies; recommend bat boxes as condition.
Highways confirmed no highway interest and no objection; DEFA Biodiversity initially requested bat surveys but later confirmed the submitted survey was satisfactory with bat enhancement recommendations; German Parish Commissioners had no objection.
Key concern: potential for roosting bats to be present
Highway Services Division
No Objectionthere is no Highways HDC interest (NHI) in: 22/00626/B
Highway Services Division
No ObjectionHighways Development Control notes the amendments uploaded on 2 August 2022 and continues to apply no highway interest to this proposal.
Highway Services Division
No ObjectionHighways Development Control notes the additional detail uploaded on 3 October 2022 and continues to apply no highway interest to this proposal.
DEFA Biodiversity
Conditional No Objectionbat surveys are undertaken prior to the conversion or modification of any pre 1960s detached buildings within 200m of woodland and/or water; Bat surveys should be undertaken in accordance with the Bat Conservation Trusts Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists - Good Practice Guidelines (3rd Edition 2016); The presence or absence of protected species... should be established before planning permission is granted
Conditions requested: preliminary assessment to look at the potential of this property to contain a bat roost, is undertaken by a suitably qualified ecological consultant, prior to determination; If the preliminary assessment identifies the property as suitable or if evidence of bats is found, then further bat surveys will be required and a report detailing the findings and appropriate mitigation measures; survey reports are submitted prior to determination
DEFA Biodiversity
No ObjectionThe Manx Bat Group’s bat survey for the Swiss Chalet dated 7th July 2022, is all in order and a suitable level of assessment has been undertaken.; The Manx Bat Group found no evidence of current or previous use of the property by bats and therefore determined that mitigation is not required.; we do recommend that provision for bats is made on the property
Conditions requested: provision for bats is made on the property, either via allowing them access to a suitably designed loft space or through inclusion of bat boxes; If bats, or evidence of bats, is discovered while work is being undertaken, all work must stop and advice be sought from the Ecosystem Policy Team
German Parish Commissioners
No ObjectionMy Commissioners have no objection to this application.
