**Document:** 09/01047/B Officer Report **Application:** 09/01047/B — Installation of a sculpture **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2009-09-04 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/63373-braddan-willaston-primary-school-road-sculpture/documents/1380607 --- # 09/01047/B Officer Report **Application No.:** 09/01047/B **Applicant:** Isle Of Man Arts Council **Proposal:** Installation of a sculpture **Site Address:** Willaston Primary School School Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM2 6RD ### Considerations Case Officer : Ms Henrietta Hopkins **Expected Decision Level:** Planning Committee ### Written Representations ### Consultations Consultee : Highways Division Notes: Do not oppose has no traffic management parking or road safety implications. Consultee : Douglas Corporation Notes: No objection ### Officer's Report ### The Site The application site represents part of the southern corner of the playing fields to Willaston Primary School, Douglas. To the south and west of the primary school is a public highway, School Road; to the north residential; and to the east the Isle of Man College of Further Education. ### The Proposal This application seeks approval for a sculpture located within the school grounds. The sculpture, which will be fabricated from mirror polished stainless steel, will be situated to the south of the school; opposite No's 22 and 24 School Road. The circled sculpture itself is approximately 1 metre in height sitting on raised level of ground. A grass pedestrian walkway of 1 metre in width is provided around the raised level of ground and sculpture in a circle. Raised ground is also formed the other side of the circled pedestrian walkway with three level access points provided. ### Planning Status The application site is zoned as an area of buildings for civic, cultural and other special use (Primary School) in the Douglas Local Plan 1998. The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains two policies' which are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application General Policy 2 and Community Policy 5. General Policy 2 states the following: "Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: - (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief; - (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; - (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; - (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; - (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; - (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; - (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; - (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space; - (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; - (j) can be provided with all necessary services; - (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; - (I) is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or flooding; - (m) takes account of community and personal safety and security in the design of buildings and the spaces around them; and - (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption." Community Policy 5 states the following: "Permission will normally be given for proposals to improve or extend schools and institutions of higher education and to build new schools, subject to their being sited and designed in accordance with the other policies of this plan, having particular regard to the potential for community use of the buildings and the associated Open Space." ## Planning History There have been a number of planning applications submitted relating to the school; the one that is relevant to the proposed development is: 08/00327/B - Erection of Sculpture - Appeal withdrawn (18th September 2008) ### Assessment The concept for a piece of public art within the school grounds would appear to be acceptable and the question of whether you like or dislike the proposed sculpture in terms of its design is subjective. The main question with this proposal is to ask is whether it will be appropriate for its setting, in terms of size and siting. The proposed sculpture is a marked improvement from the original scheme which was refused planning permission last year (08/00327/B). The original sculpture was considered to be too large and a prominent feature of the area where it had a maximum height of 9 metres and a total width of 14 metres. The sculpture, subject of this application, will be visible from the highway due to the lack of landscaping features opposite No's 22 and 24 School Road; this is the intention of the applicant so as to make the sculpture a focal point of the community. The sculpture, however, is not considered to be an intrusive feature. The surrounding area of the sculpture is characterised by two storey dwellings and single storey school buildings. The circled sculpture is only 1 metre in height, situated on a low level of raised ground. It is considered that a sculpture of this size will not have a detrimental impact on neighbouring properties or the character of the surrounding area. The proposed development would not have an impact on the existing access and parking arrangements within the curtilage of the school and therefore the highway adviser has raised no planning objection to the proposal. **REPRESENTATIONS** The following written representations have been received: - The Department of Transport has raised no objection to the proposal. - Douglas Corporation has raised no objection to the proposal. **RECOMMENDATION** For these reasons the proposal is considered acceptable and it is recommended that the planning application be permitted. **PARTY STATUS** It is considered that the following parties, who submitted comments, accord with the requirements of Planning Circular 1/06 and are therefore, afforded Interested Party Status: - The Department of Transport Drainage Division - Douglas Corporation --- **Recommendation** **Recommended Decision:** Permitted **Date of Recommendation:** 20.08.2009 --- **Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal** - **C: Conditions for approval** - **N: Notes attached to conditions** - **R: Reasons for refusal** - **O: Notes attached to refusals** ## **C 1.** The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. --- 25 August 2009 09/01047/B C 2. This approval shall relate to the submitted Drawing No. 01, 003 received on 22nd June, 2009. I confirm that this decision has been made by the Planning Committee in accordance with the authority afforded to it under the Town and Country (Development Procedure) 2005 Decision Made: Approval. Committee Meeting Date: 03/09/09. Signed: H. Hopkins Presenting Officer Further to the decision of the Committee an additional report/condition reason is required. Signing Officer to delete as appropriate ## ☐ YES ☑ NO --- *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/63373-braddan-willaston-primary-school-road-sculpture/documents/1380607*