**Document:** THOR Objectives and Ambitions
**Application:** 19/00812/CON — Registered Building consent for alterations, installation of roof lights and conversion of existing court house into a multi-functional community centre (in association with 19/00811/GB) Registered Building Nos. 79
**Decision:** Permitted
**Decision Date:** 2019-09-11
**Parish:** Lezayre
**Document Type:** report / planning_statement
**Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/29031-lezayre-court-house-conversion-dwelling/documents/1329209

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# THOR Objectives and Ambitions

## 1900812

### Proposition

### The Heart of Ramsey

OUR OBJECTIVES ..... 1
PROMOTE AND DEVELOP ..... 2
WORK AND SELL ..... 3
MEET AND EAT ..... 4
PERFORM AND PLAY ..... 6
CREATE AND CELEBRATE ..... 8

## Our Objectives

### Support The Community

We will:

- Build a community hub at the heart of Ramsey
- Be a stable and reliable help to all
- Facilitate existing organisations to supplement and extend their activities
- Act as a recognised point of contact for information, interaction and engagement

### Support Ramsey \& The North

We will:

- Preserve Courthouse heritage
- Promote local History and Heritage
- Prioritise and promote Ramsey and the North.

### Support Manx Commerce \& Culture

We will:

- Act as venue for any and all enterprise (music lessons, farmers markets, artists in residence, local cottage industry)
- Provide a space for entrepreneurs to grow, like the Eagle Labs.
- Host and promote cultural events
- Build and maintain a top class performance venue
- Provide a platform for advertising and promotion

### Support Inclusivity And Opportunity

We will support and empower:

- The young
- The elderly
- The disabled
- Families, and single parents
- New residents
- Business and Entrepreneurs
- Individuals and groups

## Promote And Develop

THOR believe that the renovated Courthouse will be an ideal venue and central location

- for the promotion of everything Ramsey and its locality have to offer as a place to live, visit, trade and play
- to provide a central and accessible site from which information can be shared and exchanged
- to lend itself to the development of skills and crafts and a market place for individuals and businesses alike.

### Ambition 1

To highlight local produce and showcase local talent by:

- promoting and hosting trade fairs, exhibitions and performance by local artists
- as far as possible serving locally produced and prepared fare in the Café
- providing promotional and advertising opportunities to all local traders
- presenting local cottage industries with an outlet for orders and sales.

### Ambition 2

To create a place of discovery by:

- providing a platform for marketing Ramsey and the north as a place to live, visit, trade and play
- exhibiting, promoting, informing and offering occasion to learn
- encouraging and facilitating a 'have a go/try and see' ethos amongst users.

### Ambition 3

To provide opportunities to learn and grow by:

- building confidence, increasing self-worth and gaining experience through involvement, inclusivity and volunteering
- encouraging learning, facilitating the acquisition and practicing of new skills and widening social contact
- breaking down perceived barriers to inclusion and capability.

## Work And Sell

Ramsey Courthouse has a fantastic central location. Combined with enhanced accessibility and a modified layout, it will be ideally suited as both a place to work and for local commerce to flourish.

### Ambition 1

To provide convenient, pleasant and private work spaces within a vibrant and airy setting, by means of:

- well-equipped offices and desk space available for short- and medium-term hire
- private rooms for hire which lend themselves to meetings, private and group tuition and personal study
- on site catering facilities
- the provision of a neutral, central and buoyant atmosphere that lends itself to networking opportunities.

### Ambition 2

To offer managed and guided work experience to:

- volunteers
- young people and school students
- those with learning differences, disabilities and in circumstances that don't lend themselves to permanent employment.

### Ambition 3

To encourage and promote local commerce by creating a market place:

- As an outlet for a wealth of local cottage industries, either directly or as a point of contact for orders and deliveries
- For trade fairs, exhibitions and auctions
- To host regular markets for the sale of local produce
- For the promotion and advertising of local business of all forms.

## Meet And Eat

THOR has identified a need for an attractive, accessible and inclusive venue in the heart of Ramsey for all to forge friendships,, conduct business and share good times.

### Ambition 1

To create a meeting place with no barriers, where all are welcome and in which the people of Ramsey and the North are involved and feel a sense of ownership and pride by:

- providing appealing and multifunctional spaces where people can come to share time, company, interest and passions.
- creating an atmosphere in which people feel welcomed, included and valued.
- optimising chances for participation at all levels.

### Ambition 2

To maximise footfall and contact so as to best ascertain the needs and wants of the community, leading to optimal use of resources through:

- affordable and appealing café facilities to provide opportunities for initial conversation, building relationships and ascertaining needs
- providing a varied and flexible program of events through which passions can be discovered and shared and skills learnt and practiced.

### Ambition 3

To encourage social engagement across all perceived sectors of the community through:

- the provision of carefully planned, targeted and flexible schemes and programs
- creating and facilitating occasions for encouraging involvement by matching needs to potential providers.

### Ambition 4

To provide employment and volunteering opportunities as a means of:

- encouraging self- worth, self-confidence, a sense of belonging and wellbeing
- giving work experience (long and short term) as a means of personal development
- offering those with learning differences, disabilities and in circumstances that don't lend themselves to permanent employment an opportunity to gain work place skills.

## Ambition 5

To provide affordable and appealing café facilities offering a basic but high-quality menu that:

- as far as possible, is locally sourced and prepared produce
- will accommodate a full spectrum of dietary needs - including, but not limited to, vegetarian, vegan, lactose/gluten-free, and allergy conscious options.
- will be prepared in a sustainable and environmentally-conscious manner, with minimal waste.

## Perform And Play

THOR has identified a need for an arts hub in the North of the Isle of Man to be:

- A thriving venue offering a diverse program of performance and exhibitions
- State of the art facilities for groups and individuals to develop their craft, rehearse, display, perform and interact

Ramsey Courthouse is a distinct and iconic building that contributes to the community's sense of identity through the evolution of Manx arts.

### Ambition 1

To provide a high-quality focal point for artists of all genres to meet, develop, train \& perform.

- Ramsey Courthouse affords an island wide opportunity as an accessible hub for artists to gather, share ideas and showcase their art
- The building of relationships between different performers, audiences and community is invaluable to the progression of art.
- Proposed modifications to the building lend themselves to small and large group needs, individual and 1-1 sessions that can be tailored to meet the needs of all artists and audiences.

### Ambition 2

To be a distinctly Manx venue aiming to build community via experiencing, viewing and showcasing artistic talent in all forms.

- The space will facilitate all art forms, bringing together new and diverse audiences and allowing inclusive access to high quality teaching and workshops in all art forms
- Bringing people together through the Arts increases sense of community, solidarity and common interest resulting in a positive sense of wellbeing
- The enhancement of this historic building will further contribute to an increasingly vibrant area and will make an important contribution to the social and cultural identity of the Island.

### Ambition 3

To establish a venue which is not only renowned Island wide but also further afield, connecting artists, performers and audiences by:

- Enabling the acquisition of skills and advancement into new areas.

- By establishing managed media presence to promote Ramsey Courthouse for showcasing Manx Arts nationally
- By encouraging and targeting those who would not usually see, or experience local art as potential audience.

## Create And Celebrate

At its heart THOR aims to provide Ramsey and the North with a well-designed and flexible space, from which:

- creativity can be embraced and blossom
- community can be celebrated
- achievements recognised.

### Ambition 1

To encourage use of the building for creativity through:

- hosting workshops, creative clubs and groups
- smaller rooms that lend themselves to tuition, mentoring, the sharing of ideas and workplaces

### Ambition 2

To manage opportunity creatively by:

- forward thinking, resourceful, imaginative, flexible and diverse use if resources
- the ongoing monitoring of feedback from residents, visitors and businesses to enable progressive planning
- maintaining an open minded and positive approach to suggestions and change.

### Ambition 3

To celebrate creativity and success through:

- The design of a light, airy and flexible space that lends itself to performance, exhibition and display
- The use of a wide range of media to publish and champion events, activities and achievements in Ramsey and the North

### Ambition 4

To create 'community' by:

- facilitating and encouraging the building of relationships and the forging of friendships
- encouraging involvement and recognising the benefits of 'giving' for personal wellbeing
- hosting and supporting social interaction at every level via as many means possible!

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*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/29031-lezayre-court-house-conversion-dwelling/documents/1329209*