See how two applications differ — policies cited, conditions imposed, outcomes, and more. Useful for understanding why similar proposals get different decisions.
Yes. Planning precedent is a material consideration on the Isle of Man. If a similar development was approved nearby under comparable policies and site conditions, it strengthens the argument that your application should also be approved. Planningportal.im lets you compare applications side by side with an AI analysis highlighting the relevant similarities.
Planning precedent means previous decisions can influence future ones where circumstances are similar. Officers and the Planning Committee consider whether comparable developments have been approved or refused in the area. The strongest precedents involve similar sites, similar proposals, and the same planning policies.
The key factors are similarity of site context, type and scale of development, applicable planning policies, and the date of the decision. A recent approval for a similar extension nearby carries more weight than one decided 10 years ago in a different parish. The comparison tool analyses these factors automatically.
Refused applications can also be useful. If a similar proposal was refused and your application addresses the specific reasons for that refusal, it demonstrates that your scheme has overcome the previous concerns. The comparison tool highlights the key differences between applications, helping you distinguish your proposal from unsuccessful ones.
Use the search on this page to find applications similar to yours, or navigate to any application detail page and use the 'Find Similar' button. The system uses semantic search across 80,000+ applications to identify the most relevant comparators based on development type, location, and policy context.
