**Document:** Officer Report
**Application:** 15/01393/CON — Registered Building Consent for the installation of additional timber panelling to Council Chamber (Registered Building no 169)
**Decision:** Permitted
**Decision Date:** 2016-05-09
**Parish:** Braddan
**Document Type:** report / officer_report
**Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/20851-braddan-town-hall-ridgeway-street-registered-building-consent/documents/1007670

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# Officer Report

**Application No.:** 15/01393/CON
**Applicant:** Douglas Borough Council
**Proposal:** Registered Building Consent for the installation of additional timber panelling to Council Chamber (Registered Building no 169)
**Site Address:** Town Hall Ridgeway Street Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EP Case Officer : Miss Abigail Morgan
**Expected Decision Level:** Officer Delegation

## Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The application site represents the curtilage of Town Hall (Douglas Borough Council). The application site is located within Athol St/Victoria St Conservation Area. The building is Registered Building 169 by virtue of its aesthetic and historical interest.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 The application is for registered building consent for internal alterations to the Council Chamber with the addition of a row of panels either side of the fireplace on the West Wall. This would increase the number of rows from four to five to allow space for additional future photographs. - 2.2 All new timber to be French oak to be stained to match the existing. This is proposed to be done on site to achieve the best match. - 2.3 To maintain existing appearance the top row and cornice is to be moved one row up to allow the new row to be inserted. Details of cornice have been provided should a new one be required. However they are attempting to re-use existing as much as possible.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 There have been a number of previous planning applications, particularly for internal alterations which were considered acceptable.

- 93/01325/B - Provision of disabled persons ramp and access door, Town Hall, Ridgeway Street, Douglas - Permitted
- 94/01422/B - Restoration of building including replacement of doors and windows, Town Hall, Ridgeway Street, Douglas. - Permitted 94/01798/B - Hard landscaping to areas surrounding the Town Hall, Ridgeway Street, Douglas. Permitted 98/00710/B - Erection of flag pole, Douglas Town Hall Garden, Ridgeway Street, Douglas.Permitted 98/01357/GB - Internal alterations to convert existing ladies toilets to ladies and gents toilets, first floor, Town Hall, Ridgeway Street, Douglas. - Permitted

- 02/01416/GB - Internal alterations, - Permitted
- 03/01723/GB - Provision of a new/refurbished reception area on ground and first floor - Permitted

08/01825/CON - Registered Building consent for internal alterations to fittings and escape staircase from the first floor council chamber. Registered Building Nos. 169 - Permitted

- 15/00849/GB - Installation of replacement windows and refurbishment of existing windows (in association with PA 14/00850/CON) - Pending Consideration
- 15/00850/CON - Registered Building Consent for the installation of replacement windows and refurbishment of existing windows (RB no 169 in association with PA 14/00849/GB) - Pending Consideration

4.0 PLANNING STATUS - 4.1 As the proposals are wholly within the building the relevant policies are; - 4.2 Environment Policy 32 states: "Extensions or alterations to a Registered Building which would affect detrimentally its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest will not be permitted." - 4.3 Environment Policy 34 states: "In the maintenance, alteration or extension of pre-1920 buildings, the use of traditional materials will be preferred." - 4.4 Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man sets down the policies in relation to the conservation of the built environment of the Isle of Man, including policy for the identification and protection of historic buildings, conservation areas and other elements of the environment. This policy statement contains one policy that is considered specifically material to the assessment of this planning application: - 4.5 RB/5: ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS: "In considering whether to grant planning approval for development which affects a registered building or its setting and in considering whether to grant registered building consent for any works, the Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. "Registered Building consent is required for the building's alteration in any way which would affect its special architectural or historic character. There will be a general presumption against alteration or extension of registered buildings, except where a convincing case can be made, against the criteria set out in this section, for such proposals.

"Applicants for registered building consent for alteration or extension to a registered building must be able to justify their proposals. They will be required to show why the works which would affect the character of the registered building are desirable or necessary and they should provide full information to enable the Department to assess the likely impact of their proposals on the special architectural or historic interest of the building and on its setting. Where registered buildings are the subject of successive applications for alteration or extension, consideration will also be given to the cumulative effect upon the building's special interest as a result of several minor works which may individually seem of little consequence."

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Douglas Borough Council, no objection. 21.01.2016. - 5.2 IOM Newspapers have requested to be kept informed of the application.

6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The application is for internal works in the Council Chamber the registration whilst referring to this room in 1900 as 'magnificent room… which has an arched roof with panelled ceiling. The floor is laid in Oak which also used for the wainscoting and the Ardron mantelpiece.' During the life of the building various alterations have taken place many of which have taken place as a result of

- changing needs of the building and those occupying. This proposal is one such change, where additional space is required for Mayoral Photographs.
- 6.2 As can be seen from the photograph montages submitted the proposal is complimentary to the existing room layout. However as can be seen from Photos 2 and 3 this is in all likelihood the limit that can be achieved as anything above this height would be higher than the door frame and appear out of place.
- 6.3 The proposed materials are to be French Oak stained to match the existing. The submitted information sets out how the works will be carried out and appear to be sensitive the nature of the building and ensuring that the new panels will match the existing.
- 6.4 Overall it is considered that the proposal does not affect its special architectural or historic character and therefore complies with the requirements of Environment Policies 32 and 35 and Planning Policy Statement 1/01.

7.0 PARTY STATUS - 7.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Registered Buildings) Regulations 2013, the following are automatically interested persons:

- (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;
- (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application;
- (c) Manx National Heritage; and
- (d) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated

7.2 In addition to those above, the Regulation 9(3) requires the Department to decide which persons (if any) who have made representations with respect to the application, should be treated as having sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application to take part in any subsequent proceedings relating to the application. - 7.3 With effect from 1 June 2015, the Transfer of Planning & Building Control Functions Order 2015 amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 to give effect to the meaning of the word 'Department' to be the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture unless otherwise directed by that Order.

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 25.04.2016 Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The works hereby granted registered building consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this consent.

Reason: To comply with paragraph 2(2)(a) of schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented registered building consents.

This approval relates to drawings 01 and 02 and 1/3200, Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Contractors Method Statement all date stamp as received 22 December 2016.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Interim Director of Planning and Building Control in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 06.05.2016 Determining officer

Signed : J CHANCE Jennifer Chance Interim Director of Planning and Building Control

## Customer note

## This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the file copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online services/customers and archive records.

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*Data sourced from the Isle of Man public planning register under the [Isle of Man Open Government Licence](https://www.gov.im/about-this-site/open-government-licence/).*
*Canonical page: https://planningportal.im/a/20851-braddan-town-hall-ridgeway-street-registered-building-consent/documents/1007670*