**Document:** DEC Officer Report **Application:** 22/01556/CON — Registered Building consent for the installation of non illuminated signage. RB nos. 99 **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2023-02-03 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/26277-braddan-18-finch-road-registered-building-consent/documents/1034949 --- # DEC Officer Report ## PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION **Application No.:** 22/01556/CON **Applicant:** Mrs Trudi Williamson **Proposal:** Registered Building consent for the installation of non illuminated signage. RB nos. 99 **Site Address:** 18 Finch Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 2PT Technical Officer: Mr Thomas Sinden **Expected Decision Level:** Officer Delegation **Recommended Decision:** Permitted **Date of Recommendation:** 30.01.2023 ## 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 application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. The application is judged to be in accordance with section 16 of the Town and Country Act 1999 as the building's special interest is being preserved. The application is also judged to meet the tests of planning policy statement 1/01 as well as strategic policy 4 and Environment Policy 32 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016 as the building is being protected and preserved. Whilst non-traditional materials are proposed for the signage as preferred by Environment Policy 34, the proposal is judged to be acceptable in this instance as the design is sympathetic and appropriate to the building and locality. The application is therefore deemed to be acceptable. Plans/Drawings/Information; This decision relates to the information submitted on 19th December 2022. _______________________________________________________________ ## Interested Person Status Additional Persons None _____________________________________________________________________________ ## Officer’s Report 1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The site is 18 Finch Road, a registered building (RB 99). Finch Road stands on land that was at one time known as Finch's Estate, and was laid out in in 1830 for building purposes. Number 18, one half of a semi-detached property with number 16 (RB 98), is one of a series of high status dwellings along the eastern side of Finch Road dating from the 1830s and 1840s, with period features and form that show the architectural style being employed on the island during the period. The properties also illustrate part of the development of Douglas from a small 18th century fishing port through to a bustling Victorian tourist resort and the island's capital. The property is not located within a conservation area. 2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 This application seeks registered building consent for the installation of a 42cm by 59.4cm acrylic sign on the front elevation of the building, adjacent to the front door. The sign would list the names of the companies occupying the building as an office. The sign would be mounted to the wall using four metal fixings, one in each corner. 3.0 PLANNING POLICY - 3.1 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1999 S16 Registered buildings: supplementary provisions (3) In considering — - (a) whether to grant planning approval for development which affects a registered building or its setting, or - (b) whether to grant registered building consent for any works, the relevant 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. 3.2 National policy: THE ISLE OF MAN STRATEGIC PLAN 2016 Strategic Policy 4: Proposals for development must: (a) Protect or enhance the fabric and setting of Ancient Monuments, Registered Buildings(1), Conservation Areas(2), buildings and structures within National Heritage Areas and sites of archaeological interest; Environment Policy 32: 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. Environment Policy 34: In the maintenance, alteration or extension of pre-1920 buildings, the use of traditional materials will be preferred. Environment Policy 38: Advertisements close to Conservation Areas must respect and preserve the character and appearance of the area to ensure that views into and out of such areas are protected. ## - 4.0 PLANNING HISTORY - Reference Number: 09/01478/GB - Proposal: Alterations and extension to office building (In association with 09/01479CON) - Reference Number: 09/01479/CON Status: Permitted Proposal: Registered Building Consent for alterations and extension to office building (RB no's 98 & 99 in association with 09/01478GB) Reference Number: 08/01565/CON Status: Application Withdrawn Proposal: Registered Building consent for renovations and erection of extensions (In association with 08/01563/GB & 08/01564/CON) Registered Building Nos. 099 Reference Number: 08/01564/CON Status: Permitted Proposal: Registered Building consent for renovations and erection of extensions (In association with 08/01563/GB) Registered Building Nos. 098 & 099 Reference Number: 08/01563/GB Status: Permitted Proposal: Renovations, erection of extensions and construction of a new car park to replace existing to rear (In association with 08/01564/CON) - Reference Number: 07/02384/GB Status: Permitted Proposal: Renovations, erection of extensions and construction of a new car park to replace existing to rear (In association with 07/02385/CON & 07/02386/CON) - Reference Number: 07/02385/CON Status: Permitted Proposal: Registered Building consent for renovations and erection of extensions (In - association with 07/02384/GB) Registered Building Nos. 98. Reference Number: 07/02386/CON Status: Permitted Proposal: Registered Building consent for renovations and erection of extensions (In - association with 07/02384/GB) Registered Building Nos. 99. Reference Number: 05/00688/GB Status: Refused Proposal: Erection of railings around front of building (In association with 05/00688CON) Reference Number: 05/00688/CON Status: Refused Proposal: Erection of railings around front of building (In association with 05/00688GB) Reference Number: 90/04236/B Status: Refused Proposal: Replacement of existing windows, 16-18 Finch Road, Douglas. Reference Number: 87/00103/B Status: Permitted Proposal: Construction of porch to first floor rear elevation, 16/18 Finch Road, Douglas Reference Number: 86/00136/B Proposal: Proposed amalgamation to form office accommodation and associated car parking facilities, Nos. 16 and 18, Finch Road, Douglas Reference Number: 85/01084/B Status: Permitted Proposal: Demolition of rear outlet and installation of new windows in basement area, 16 Finch Road, Douglas ## - 5.0 REPRESENTATIONS 5.1 No comments have been received regarding the application. - 6.0 ASSESSMENT 6.1 The issue here is whether the proposals would affect detrimentally the building's special interest. 6.2 The proposed sign is modest in size, sufficiently so to fit within Class 2 of Schedule 3 within the Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013. Given the sign's intended clear overall finish, with company names in black, and the nature of the four metal fixings, it is considered that there would be no detrimental impact on the building's special interest. Although traditional materials are not being proposed, the proposal is considered acceptable in this instance given the finish, scale and form are such as to not impact the building's special interest. - 7.0 CONCLUSION 7.1 The application is judged to be in accordance with section 16 of the Town and Country Act 1999 as the building's special interest is being preserved. The application is also judged to meet the tests of planning policy statement 1/01 as well as strategic policy 4 and environment policy 32 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016 as the building is being protected and preserved. Whilst non-traditional materials are proposed for the signage as preferred by Environment Policy 34, the proposal is judged to be acceptable in this instance as the design is sympathetic and appropriate to the building and locality. The application is therefore recommended for approval. - 8.0 INTERESTED PERSONS STATUS 8.1 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) Manx National Heritage; and - (c) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated 8.2. 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. I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status. Decision Made : Permitted Date: 02.02.2023 Determining officer Signed : J SINGLETON Jason Singleton Principal Planner 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. --- *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/26277-braddan-18-finch-road-registered-building-consent/documents/1034949*