**Document:** Officer Planning Report **Application:** 10/01584/B — Access alterations and creation of a doorway to rear elevation **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2010-12-14 **Parish:** Lezayre **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/37104-lezayre-hsbc-bank-st-doors/documents/1360955 --- # Officer Planning Report **Application No.:** ** 10/01584/B ** **Applicant:** ** HSBC Bank Plc ** **Proposal:** ** Access alterations and creation of a doorway to rear elevation ** **Site Address:** ** - HSBC Bank - St Pauls Square - Ramsey - Isle Of Man - IM8 1LE ### Considerations **Case Officer:** Mrs Jade Craig ** **Photo Taken:** ** 10.11.2010 ** **Site Visit:** ** 10.11.2010 ** **Expected Decision Level:** ** Senior Planning Officer ### Written Representations ### Consultations **Consultee:** Highways Division **Notes:** Do not oppose **Consultee:** Clerk To The Commissioners And RTC Drainage **Notes:** No objection. ### Officer's Report #### The Site The application site represents the curtilage of HSBC Bank, St. Paul's Square, Ramsey. The bank occupies a ground floor unit in the western section of the shopping precinct, immediately south of the entrance to St. Paul's apartments. #### The Proposal Proposed are internal and external alterations to the unit. On the front (east) elevation, the front door would be replaced, like for like. The existing internal entrance lobby would be removed. On the rear elevation, an existing window would be replaced with a fire escape door. There would be an external raised concrete platform area outside the door with bollards to the end of the platform. The platform would be 1.15 metres wide and would project out from the building by 1 metre. There would also be an area of ground measuring 1.15 metres squared at the end of the platform which would be painted with yellow paint, marking a hazard area. #### Planning History There are no previous planning applications which are considered relevant in the assessment and determination of this application. ## Development Plan Policies The application site is located within an area designated as Mixed Use (Town Centre) in the Ramsey Local Plan Order 1998, Map No. 2 (South). The Ramsey Conservation Area extends around the grounds of St. Paul's Church nearby, but it does not include the application site. The relevant planning policies from the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 are General Policy 2 and Environment Policy 36. ### Consultations The Department of Infrastructure Highways Division do not object to this proposal, as there are no traffic management, parking or road safety implications. Ramsey Town Commissioners do not object to this proposal. ### Representations No written responses have been received from the general public. ### Assessment The alterations to the front involve changes to the entrance. The impact of which is considered to be minimal and unobjectionable. The alterations to the rear involve changing an existing window opening to form a fire exit door and building a concrete platform outside this door. From visiting the site, the unit appears to be the only one which does not currently have a rear fire door. The existing fire exit is a window with yellow road hatching outside. The proposed means of escape would be an improvement to the poor existing situation. The area adjacent to the rear is used as a car park and in my opinion, is unsightly. It is considered that the proposals would have no adverse affects. Environment Policy 36 ensures that development close to the boundary of a Conservation Area does not have an adverse effect on important views in and out of the Conservation Area. The changes to the front of the unit are judged to be minimal and would not impact upon the surroundings of St. Paul's Church. The rear of the site is not considered to be an important view in or out of the Conservation Area. ### Recommendation For the above reasons this application is considered to be acceptable and is recommended for approval. ### Party Status The local authority is, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (c) and (d), considered an "interested person" and as such should be afforded party status. The Department of Transport Highways 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: 09.12.2010 9 December 2010 10/01584/B ## Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal ### 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 access alterations to the front and the creation of a doorway to the rear, as shown in drawing numbers 01, 02 and 03, date stamped 27th October 2010. I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to the Senior Planning Officer. Decision Made : Permitted Date : Signed : Senior Planning Officer --- *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/37104-lezayre-hsbc-bank-st-doors/documents/1360955*