**Document:** Design and Access Statement **Application:** 16/01118/C — change of use from retail to office use. **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2016-11-04 **Parish:** Lezayre **Document Type:** report / design_access_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/20496-lezayre-28-parliament-change-of-use/documents/1317282 --- # Design and Access Statement ## Design \& Access Statement - Change of Use of Basement and Ground Floor to Office, 28 Parliament Street, Ramsey. The aim of this proposal is to convert the basement and ground floor from a vacant hairdressers and beauty treatment salon to an office. ### Use The proposed office would provide a reception, client meeting rooms, administration office a secure filing room and associated facilities. The use and access to the basement and ground floor is independent from the upper floors which do not form part of this application. ### Amount The proposal is to convert the existing basement and ground floor which total . ### Location 28 Parliament Street is a mid-terrace property with a front aspect onto Parliament Street and a rear elevation onto the rear yards of the adjacent properties. The property is located within a Mixed Use - Town Centre and the proposal is in accordance with the Ramsey Local Plan Policy R/I/P5 - new office uses may be located in the Town Centre. The proposed use of this existing vacant property in this location is in accordance with The Isle of Man Strategic Plan Strategic Plan Strategic Policy 1 - Development should make the best use of resources by: (a) optimising the use of previously developed land, redundant buildings, unused and under-used land and buildings, and re-using scarce indigenous building materials; (b) ensuring efficient use of sites, taking into account the needs for access, landscaping, open space and amenity standards and (c) being located so as to utilise existing and planned infrastructure, facilities and services. The proposed use of this existing vacant property in this location is also in accordance with The Isle of Man Strategic Plan Strategic Plan Spatial Policy 2 Outside Douglas development will be concentrated on the following Service Centres to provide regeneration and choice of location for housing, employment and services: Ramsey, Peel, Port Erin, Castletown and Onchan. Area plans will define the development boundaries of such centres so as to provide a range of housing and employment opportunities at a scale appropriate to the settlement. The proposed use of this existing vacant property in this location is also in accordance with The Isle of Man Strategic Plan Strategic Plan Business Policy 7 - new office floor space should be located within town and village centres on land which is zoned for the purpose on the appropriate area plan; exceptionally permission may be given for new office space (a) on approved Business Parks for Corporate Headquarters which do not involve day to day callers; or (b) in buildings of acknowledged architectural or historic interest for which office use represents the only or most appropriate practicable and economic way of securing future use, renovation and maintenance. 28 Parliament Street is within the Ramsey Conservation Area, and is not a Registered Building. As the adjacent properties in this block of Parliament Street have all maintained their use as retail, the proposal is in accordance with the Ramsey Local Plan Policy R/TC/P1 - there will be a general presumption in favour of retention of retail uses at ground floor level in the main shopping streets. Office uses at ground floor level will not be permitted to occupy more than of the street frontage in any one block between public and vehicular highways in these streets as the proposal would account for only of the frontage. The surrounding area is a controlled on-street parking zone. ## Layout The internal layout of the accommodation has been arranged so that members of the public have access to a reception area and meeting room on the ground floor. Also at ground floor level will be an administration office, a kitchen and toilet facilities. The basement will be used for a larger meeting room and a secure file room. ### Sustainability Issues The property is situated in a sustainable location in the town centre; with good access to shops, services, amenities, and public transport with close proximity to onstreet and short and long stay off-street car parking. The proposal is for a change of use of part of an existing vacant building which will utilise existing service supplies. As far as is practical materials required for the conversion will be sourced from local suppliers and manufacturers. ### Appearance The external appearance of the building will remain unaltered. ### Access The office will be accessed from a dedicated entrance doorway directly off Parliament Street, which is an adopted road. Access to the accommodation on the upper storeys is via a separate dedicated entrance to the rear of the property. ## Parking There is no existing or proposed provision for dedicated off-street car parking, but given the sustainable location and the close proximity to public and private on-street and off-street parking facilities it is not deemed necessary. ### Bin Storage and Refuse Collection The existing arrangement for bin storage and collection will be maintained. --- *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/20496-lezayre-28-parliament-change-of-use/documents/1317282*