**Document:** Officer Report
**Application:** 17/00001/C — Additional use of self contained apartment as tourist accommodation
**Decision:** Permitted
**Decision Date:** 2017-02-14
**Parish:** Lonan
**Document Type:** report / officer_report
**Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/22614-lonan-the-old-post/documents/1024524

---

# Officer Report

**Application No.:** 17/00001/C
**Applicant:** Emma Poyntz
**Proposal:** Additional use of self contained apartment as tourist accommodation
**Site Address:** The Old Post Office House Old Laxey Hill Laxey Isle of Man IM4 7DA Case Officer : Miss S E Corlett
**Expected Decision Level:** Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report THE SITE

1.1 The site is the curtilage of the Old Post Office which is situated at the bottom of Old Laxey Hill in the heart of Old Laxey. The former post office was changed to a dwelling in 1993. THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the change from permanent living accommodation to include the use of the premises as tourist accommodation. The applicant intends longer term to use the premises as permanent accommodation but would like, in the interim period, to be able to rent it out as tourist accommodation.

2.2 No changes are proposed to the building. PLANNING POLICY - 3.1 The site lies within an area of Mixed Use on the Laxey and Lonan Area Plan of 2005 and also within the village's Conservation Area. The Mixed Use designation bears the annotation, Retail, Office, Tourism, depicting the uses which would be considered acceptable here.

3.2 The Area Plan indicates that the conversion of existing property within the Conservation Area to tourist accommodation should be considered positively which accords with the Strategic Plan provisions which state:

9.5.8 The use of existing private residential properties as tourist accommodation may be acceptable if it can be demonstrated that it will not compromise the amenities of any neighbouring residents.

Business Policy 13: Permission will generally be given for the use of private residential properties as tourist accommodation providing that it can be demonstrated that such use would not compromise the amenities of neighbouring residents.

## PLANNING POLICY

4.1 The premises were converted to a private dwelling under 93/00166/C. Permission has also been given to alterations to the building, none of which is relevant to the consideration of the current application. REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Garff Parish Commissioners indicate that they do not oppose the application (10.01.17).

17/00001/C Page 1 of 4

## ASSESSMENT

6.1 There is a general presumption in favour of the use of existing dwellings as tourist accommodation in both the area and strategic plans. The site is well placed for tourist occupation in terms of the historic attractions in the town and those aimed at tourists such as the beach, ice cream kiosk, Shore Hotel public house, Mona Lisa restaurant. - 6.2 The proposal is considered appropriate in terms of policy and impact and as such is recommended for approval.

PARTY STATUS 7.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, the following persons 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 or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested;
- (c) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material
- (d) Highway Services Division of Department of Infrastructure and
- (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

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: 30.01.2017 Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

Reason: To comply with article 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No2) Order 2013 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

N 1. For clarity, the premises may be used either as tourist or permanent residential accommodation.

This approval relates to the location and floor plans received on 3rd January, 2017.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Senior Planning Officer in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date: 10.02.2017 Determining officer

17/00001/C Page 2 of 4

Signed : C BALMER Chris Balmer Senior Planning Officer

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.

17/00001/C Page 3 of 4

## 17/00001/C Page 4 of 4

---

*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/22614-lonan-the-old-post/documents/1024524*