**Document:** DEC Officer Report **Application:** 23/00829/CON — Registered Building consent for the installation of replacement handrails on steps to front elevation (in association with 23/00828/B) Registered Building Nos. 98 and 99 **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2023-09-13 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/26962-braddan-knox-house-16-18-registered-building-consent/documents/1036201 --- # DEC Officer Report ## PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION **Application No.:** 23/00829/CON **Applicant:** Isle Of Man Newspapers **Proposal:** Registered Building consent for the installation of replacement handrails on steps to front elevation (in association with 23/00828/B) Registered Building Nos. 98 and 99 **Site Address:** Knox House 16 - 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:** 04.09.2023 ## 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 meets the tests of section 16 of the Town and Country Act 1999 as the building's special architectural and historic interest are being preserved. The application is also passes the tests of planning policy statement 1/01 as well as Strategic Policy 4, Environment Policy 32 and Environment Policy 34 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016 as the building is being protected and preserved, and traditional materials are being used. The application is therefore judged to be acceptable. Plans/Drawings/Information; This decision relates to the supporting information submitted on 13th July 2023. _______________________________________________________________ ## Interested Person Status Additional Persons It is recommended that the Department of Infrastructure Highways Division should not be awarded Interested Party Status as their comments do not meet the tests within paragraph 2 of the Policy. _____________________________________________________________________________ ## Officer’s Report 1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The site is 16-18 Finch Road, registered buildings no.98 and 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 16-18 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 to install railings serving the steps on the front (Finch Road) elevation. It is proposed that two additional sets of railings would be installed between the doors of 16 and 18, and that these railings would match the existing side railings in all respects including material, form and colour. 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 Environment Policy 32 Environment Policy 34 3.3 Planning Policy Statements: 1/01 Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man ## POLICY RB/3 POLICY RB/5 4.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 4.1 There are no applications judged to be relevant to the current proposals. 5.0 REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 The Department of Infrastructure Highways Division have no objections to the application. (21.7.2023). 5.2 Douglas Borough Council have stated that they have no objections to the application (2.8.2023). 6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The issue here is whether the proposals would affect detrimentally the building's special interest. - 6.2 The building dates from the mid-19th century, and illustrates the style and form of relatively high status dwellings being built in Douglas during the period. The railings that currently exist at the side of the steps, whilst not historic and not featuring the level of detailing that exists on the railings bordering Finch Road, are restrained in form and are such that they do not adversely affect the building's special interest. Given the form and materials match the existing railings, it is judged that the installation of additional railings between the two entrance doors not affect detrimentally the building's special architectural or historic interest. In addition to the above, given that the proposed railings would enable easier access to the buildings for users with less mobility, the proposals are judged to be positive in respect of the long term use of this protected building. 7.0 CONCLUSION - 7.1 The application is judged to meet the tests of section 16 of the Town and Country Act 1999 as the building's special architectural and historic interest are being preserved. The application is also judged to pass the tests of planning policy statement 1/01 as well as strategic policy 4, environment policy 32 and environment policy 34 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016 as the building is being protected or preserved, and traditional materials are being used. It is therefore recommended that the application is approved. 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: 08.09.2023 Determining officer Signed : C BALMER Chris Balmer 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/26962-braddan-knox-house-16-18-registered-building-consent/documents/1036201*