**Document:** Planning Officer Report **Application:** 12/01122/B — Alterations to existing garage to create a double garage **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2012-09-20 **Parish:** Lezayre **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/3238-lezayre-seafield-garage/documents/1277225 --- # Planning Officer Report ## Planning Officer Report And Recommendations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Officer's Report #### The Application Site 1. The application site is the residential curtilage of an apartment complex off Ballure Road in Ramsey. The complex has a terrace of garages associated with certain apartments within the curtilage of the site. The garages all have pitched roofs and gable-end front elevations. Two of the four garages have large apertures to accommodate a double garage door. The garage for flat 2 can accommodate two cars, but unlike two of the four, has two separate apertures for two separate garage doors. #### The Proposal 2. Proposed is the removal of dividing wall in garage to create one single aperture and the installation of a double garage door. #### Planning History 3. The application site has not been the subject of any previous planning applications that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application. #### Planning Policy 4. The application site falls within an area designated for Predominantly Residential use in the Ramsey Local Plan 1998. There are no policies within Planning Circular 2/99, the written statement that accompanies the local plan, which are considered specifically material to the assessment of the planning application. 5. The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains one policy that is considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application. General Policy 2 states: "Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: - (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; - (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; - (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality". ### Representations 6. The Highways Division do not oppose the proposal as it has no adverse parking, road safety or traffic management implications. ### Assessment 7. The proposal entails minor engineering operations that would not create a garage frontage that is adverse in character to the adjoining garage units associated with other apartments in the complex. Furthermore, the proposed replacement double garage door is considered to be sympathetic in design to both the design of the garage and also the character of the adjoining garages and apartments building. The garage will not be readily visible from a principal public thoroughfare and therefore it is not considered it would be adverse to public amenity. As such, the proposal complies with the relevant provisions in General Policy 2 in the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007. ### Recommendation 8. It is recommended that the planning application be approved. ### Party Status 9. It is considered that the following parties that made representations to the planning application should be afforded interested party status: The local authority, Ramsey Town Commissioners are, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (d), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status. 10. It is considered that the following parties that made representations to the planning application should not be afforded interested party status: The Department of Transport Highways and Traffic Division is now part of the Department of Infrastructure of which the planning authority is part. As such, the Highways and Traffic Division cannot be afforded party status in this instance. ### Recommendation **Recommended Decision:** Permitted **Date of Recommendation:** 10.09.2012 C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal - : Notes attached to refusals C 1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. C 2. This approval relates to the removal of a dividing garage wall to create one single aperture, as shown in the photographs, proposal drawings and 1:1250 scale Location Plan, all received on 7th August 2012. I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to Director of Planning and Building Control / Development Control Manager/ Senior Planning Officer. Decision Made : Permitted Date : 11-9-12 Determining officer (delete as appropriate) Signed : _________________________ Anthony Holmes Senior Planning Officer Signed : _________________________ Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control Signed : 522n0w01 Sarah Corlett Senior Planning Officer Signed : _________________________ Jennifer Chance Development Control Manager --- *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/3238-lezayre-seafield-garage/documents/1277225*