**Document:** MSPCA Introduction Room Planning Statement **Application:** 16/01222/B — Construction of a single storey building to provide introduction/chill room facilities for dogs (amendment to PA15/01185/B). **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2016-12-05 **Parish:** Malew **Document Type:** report / planning_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/21665-eairy-ard-jerkyll/documents/1322054 --- # MSPCA Introduction Room Planning Statement brought into the chill rooms, in turn to give them a break from the kennel environment and reduce stress levels. It will encourage the dogs to get a bit of sleep away from the noisy kennel environment (one thing dogs like when brought home for an overnight stopover is to get their heads down and enjoy the peace and quiet). This in turn will help with the behavioural issues and training (due to reduced stress levels), and make the dogs more re-homeable. All the existing MSPCA buildings are fully utilised for housing, training etc of animals and the existing dog kennel building is often full to capacity. Due to the fact that the dog kennel building is often operating at capacity this results in a busy and relatively noisy environment, hence the need for an additional separate building. The idea of the Introduction Rooms has been discussed amongst board members for a significant length of time and a grant application was made to Support Adoption for Pets (Pets at Home) last year, which proved to be successful. A grant of £45,000 has been awarded to the MSPCA for the construction of the Introduction / Chill room building and is currently sitting in the MSPCA bank account. The original scheme approved under 15/01185/B proved to be significantly over budget and the MSPCA reviewed the scope of work in order to provide a facility suitable for purpose but within a tight budget restraint. On average 9 rescue dogs are placed with new owners per month however 1 in 4 dogs are returned after a period of time due to failure of the owners or animal to adjust. It is anticipated that the new introduction / chill room facility could help reduce this number significantly and result in more animals being successfully re-housed after a period of time in the kennels. ## 7.2 Design Approach The design objectives have been to develop proposals that: - - Create a building of suitable size to provide introduction / chill environment for up to two rescue dogs at any one time. - Are sympathetic and unobtrusive to its setting in terms of location, form and materials. - Are site specific. - Utilises existing infrastructure and services. - Complies with current planning policies - Remain within very tight budget constraints 7.3 SITE Following the approval of the dog introduction building under 15/01185/B this application seeks to move the new building closer to the existing dog kennel building. This will enable a substantial cost saving to be made as all services can be extended from the existing building and only 3 external walls of the new building will need to be clad. In order to maintain adequate noise separation between the existing dog kennel building and the new introduction facilities a dense concrete separating blockwork wall will be built within the new building and all service penetrations sealed. The windows within the new introduction rooms will have a privacy film coating to the inner surface to provide additional screening of the inhabitants from people/animals walking past. By siting the proposed building on the lowest part of the MSPCA complex it is hoped to minimize any potential visual impact on the surrounding area. Current planning policy requires that any new building is sited as close as possible to existing buildings and the proposed location complies with this. ## 7.4 Orientation The building has been orientated to match the larger dog kennel building adjacent. This will maintain a uniform view by members of the public when viewed from the Café area. As the application site is significantly lower than the Café / Administration block then the views of the countryside currently afforded to the Café will be largely unobstructed. The main entrance door to the Introduction / Chill room building will be adjacent the staff entrance and access corridor to the main dog kennel building. This allows staff a direct route between the two buildings and will also be used by volunteers who will sit with the animals while they are making use of the chill room facilities. #### 7.5 Scale The previously approved scheme consisted of four residential sized rooms with a central corridor that proved to be substantially over budget. Therefore, the MSPCA have agreed that the amended proposals need to be reduced in size in order to reduce initial build costs. Accordingly, the amended proposals comprise of two 'residential' sized rooms arranged around a central access to give a building footprint of 8 m by 6 m . We consider this scale of building to be appropriate and in-keeping with the application site and in relation to the adjacent dog kennel building. #### 7.6 Form \& Materials The building is to have an external appearance that is of an accepted form for this type of agricultural / industrial building and will be in keeping with the adjoining dog kennel buildings. A mixture of metal sheet roof/wall cladding and concrete blockwork will be incorporated into the external elevations to achieve the desired appearance. There are a number of similar styled buildings constructed on the MSPCA site and visible from the surrounding area. The roof and top section of external walls are to be finished with a dark green profiled, insulated metal sheet cladding with pressed metal gutter and downpipe, in a matching dark green. At low level the external walls are to be finished with painted smooth rendered concrete blockwork. #### 7.7 Accessibility \& Parking The MSPCA complex is served by the A24 Foxdale to Eairy Dam road with a large staff / visitor carpark at the junction of the complex with the road. It is intended that all new staff, volunteers and members of public have use of the Introduction / Chill room building will use the main carpark at all times. ## 7.8 Landscaping The amended proposals will involve the relocation of the existing refuse containers. A new binstore area will be created and enclosed using 1.8 m high timber fencing (style to match existing) to provide screening. Due to the area of natural vegetation to the north of the site it is felt that further landscaping is not required to the North and East boundaries. The existing trees will provide adequate screening of the new building from the surrounding residential properties. #### 8.0 Summary In summary: - - This proposal seeks to continue and allow for expansion of the current facilities offered by the MSPCA. - The location of the proposed building has been carefully considered so that it is respectful of effect on the surrounding landscape. - The location of the proposed building has been carefully considered so that it is respectful of effect on surrounding residential properties in order to minimize potential noise pollution. - The location of the proposed building has been carefully considered so that it maximizes the efficiency of the MSPCA complex. - The size and orientation of the proposed building has been determined based on current intended use. In light of the above and the enclosed documents we look forward to your recommendation for approval. --- *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/21665-eairy-ard-jerkyll/documents/1322054*