**Document:** Tromode House Planning Statement **Application:** 15/00128/C — Change of use of existing residential care hostel to a residential and resettlement centre together with offices and welfare facilities for the Probation Service **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2015-05-19 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** report / planning_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/5667-braddan-tromode-house-change-of-use/documents/1299421 --- # Tromode House Planning Statement ## Department of Home Affairs [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Rheynn Cooishyn Sthie ## Planning Statement in support of the application for the change of use of Tromode House ## Contents - Executive Summary ... 3 - Strategic Context ... 4 - Background ... 3 - Statement of Need ... 5 - Usage and Hours of Operation ... 6 - Feasibility for the use of Grainagh Court ... 6 ## Executive Summary The Department of Home Affairs has a statutory responsibility to supervise offenders on Court Orders operating in the community and upon those coming from prison on post custodial licences including parole licences. One of the methods of meeting that requirement is through the provision of a Rehabilitation and Resettlement Centre (RRC) in conjunction with the Probation Service The Department of Health has now confirmed that Tromode House in Cronkbourne Village is now surplus and the Department of Home Affairs wishes to utilize the premises as office accommodation and meeting rooms on the ground floor for the probation Service and to utilize the first floor accommodation as a Rehabilitation and Resettlement Centre This planning application is to allow for a joint facility for the relocation of the Probation Service Administration and to create a replacement Rehabilitation and Resettlement centre at Tromode House Currently the Probation Service is located in Prospect House in central Douglas and is split over two floors which does not promote an effective or efficient use of space or operational requirements The current RRC is owned by the Salvation Army and is run by them in partnership with the Isle of Man Prison and Probation Service. The Department of Home Affairs provides an annual financial contribution towards the running The existing RRC, David Gray House, is old, in need of extensive repairs, rendering the building unfit for purpose As well as issues with the condition of the existing building, the Department proposes that a new facility would be bigger and offer more training and rehabilitative facilities than the existing centre. This supports the objectives of the Criminal Justice Strategy which was unanimously accepted by Tynwald in December 2012. Following unsuccessful attempts to secure alternative funding, the Department previously concluded that a Government capital project was the best way forward and submitted a capital business case. Over the past few years the Department has examined a number of options to provide a replacement facility both from a new build prospective and the potential re-use of an existing Government owned building Tromode House has been used as a Children’s Centre with accommodation and catering facilities for the past 15 years and prior to that it was used for young person’s secure accommodation Tromode House consists of a ground floor that has offices and meeting rooms as well as a large kitchen and dining room The first floor consists of bedrooms, bathrooms Given its recent use, Tromode House would make a very suitable RRC and also provide further savings and opportunities for relocation of the Probation Service Administration with no alteration to the external areas of the building and minimal internal alteration ### Tromode House has the following facilities that are required for the RRC and Probation Offices - Controlled environment - CCTV - A number of individual and equipped accommodation rooms are available (some with en-suite facilities) - Large facilitation and study rooms - Individual office accommodation - Meeting rooms - Tranquil garden area - Kitchen and catering facilities - Car Parking - Close to bus routes ### Strategic Context The Government’s Agenda for Change has protection of the vulnerable as one of its overarching priorities. The work of the Department of Home Affairs is committed to making the communities within our Island a safe place to live, work and visit. The Rehabilitation and Resettlement Centre (RRC) is key facility to protecting the vulnerable The development of a new, larger and more bespoke RRC is therefore directly linked to this objective of protecting the vulnerable. In December 2009 the Council of Ministers sanctioned a policy (minute 683/09 refers) which provides that: 1. Isle of Man Government actively supports the provision of a residential establishment which would perform core roles in relation to Probation, Bail and After Care of offenders who had appeared before or were within the Island’s Criminal Justice System. 2. The Policy would actively promote the following principles:- - The provision of supported accommodation - The provision of robust curfew in appropriate cases - Non-discriminatory selection processes on grounds of race, religion and sexual orientation - Rehabilitation programmes designed to impact on offending behaviour - Accountability of offenders for their own behaviour - Enhancement of social and educational skills in order to reduce reoffending rates - Reintegration into society of offenders released from custody - Robust enforcement of Court Orders and Licences - Use of Restorative Justice Principles wherever appropriate - Integrated working with statutory and non statutory agencies. ## Statement of Need The present centre is a mid-terrace house laid out over 4 floors, providing accommodation for up to 9 residents. The physical layout and constraints of the existing location precludes the facility being run effectively and efficiently. There are numerous health and safety issues. The accommodation would fall short of any disability discrimination legislation and is not suitable for housing all types of clients costs The proposed new facility is therefore driven by a combination of critical factors:- - Serious structural and maintenance issues associated with the existing property that will require substantial financial expenditure - Severe lack of internal space within David Gray House, thus restricting the level of programme and interaction with clients - The need to increase available bed space to accommodate additional clients There have been many occasions previously where clients have not been able to be housed at the centre due to the facility being full and alternative arrangements have had to be made. Therefore in order to allow a fully integrated offender management system which would be better able to address offending behaviour and better protect the public, larger more suitable premises are required which would incorporate improved rehabilitation and resettlement services. The objectives for an enhanced replacement for David Gray House and Probation Service Administration would therefore be: - Located within walking distance of, or on a short bus route to, central Douglas (for work, benefits and for access to support groups which are largely Douglas based) - Have reasonable access to both employment and educational facilities - On a site large enough to incorporate both rehabilitation and resettlement services and the Probation Service Administration - On a site with sufficient size to increase current client numbers - On a site that allows ground floor accommodation meeting the needs older services users who may have mobility issues and requirements of disability discrimination legislation. - Discreet units, meaning the facility can be used for a greater number of clients and can house both male and female clients. The flexibility given by the unit concept also gives the management of the project more flexibility. ## Usage and Hours of Operation ### Rehabilitation and Reception Centre The RRC will operate 24/7 and will be staffed at all times Office and Administration will operate 9 to 5 Monday to Friday. Maximum Number of Clients 10 ### Probation Service Hours of operation Monday to Friday 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs Staff Numbers 8-10 Average Client daily visits 7 to 8 per day NB The majority of clients travel by public transport ## The level of vehicle and pedestrian movements will be no more than the previous use of Tromode House ### Feasibility for the use of Tromode House Tromode House is located in its own grounds in Cronkbourne Village Braddan. [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] --- *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/5667-braddan-tromode-house-change-of-use/documents/1299421*