**Document:** Officer Planning Report **Application:** 09/01166/B — Alterations and extensions to dwelling to create a leisure suite **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2009-09-25 **Parish:** Lonan **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/63599-lonan-the-old-vicarage-dwelling/documents/1383788 --- # Officer Planning Report **Application No.:** ** 09/01166/B ** **Applicant:** ** Mr Dennis & Mrs Pamela Brownlow ** **Proposal:** ** Alterations and extensions to dwelling to create a leisure suite ** **Site Address:** ** The Old Vicarage Lonan Church Road Laxey Isle Of Man IM4 7JX ### Considerations **Case Officer:** Mr Gary Barr ** **Photo Taken:** ** 23.09.2009 ** **Site Visit:** ** 23.09.2009 ** **Expected Decision Level:** ** Senior Planning Officer ### Written Representations ### Consultations **Consultee:** Highways Division **Notes:** **Consultee:** Lonan Parish Commissioners **Notes:** Approve ### Officer's Report #### The Site The application site represents the curtilage of "The Old Vicarage" which is a detached dwelling standing in its own grounds adjacent to Church Road in Loan. This north eastern facing, two storey dwelling has a large rear garden and a two storey outbuilding to the north west of the site for guest accommodation. #### The Proposal The proposed planning application is seeking approval to erect a swimming pool, spa pool with associated steam room, WC and relaxing area and patio to the south eastern corner of the property. The proposed hipped roof extension would be single storey, finished in render, brickwork, slate and timber effect windows and doors to match the existing. On the south eastern elevation the two rooflights would be removed and the creation of two pitched roof dormers to provide additional space and light into the bedrooms on the second floor. #### Planning Status Under the Laxey and Lonan Area Plan Order 2005 the application site is located within a wider area of land that is designated as open space. Given that the application site is the curtilage of an existing dwelling it is considered reasonable to describe it as constituting a house in the countryside. Policy 24 September 2009 09/01166/B Page 1 of 4 L/RES/PR/1 of the Laxey and Lonan Area Plan Order 2005 sets out the policy in respect of residential development in the plan area and states: "Residential development will generally only be approved within the study area in those areas designated as proposed and existing residential. In particular, in the case of Agneash no further dwellings will be approved although, as will be the case in areas zoned as residential, alterations and extensions to existing property may be accepted if such proposals are sympathetic to the character and appearance of both the building to the altered and the surrounding area in general." The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains one policy which should be considered in the assessment of this current planning application - Housing Policy 15 states: "The extension or alteration of existing traditionally styled properties in the countryside will normally only be approved where these respect the proportion, form and appearance of the existing property. Only exceptionally will permission be granted for extensions which measure more than 50% of the existing building in terms of floor space (measured externally)". ## **PLANNING HISTORY** The following previous planning applications should be considered relevant in the assessment and determination of this application: - PA 94/01276/B - Construction of extension and garage & conversion of outbuilding to living accommodation - Permitted - PA 99/01304/B - Extension to dwelling - Permitted - PA 99/02009/B - Alterations and extensions to dwelling - Permitted - PA 05/92210/B - Erection of a conservatory and glazed link - Permitted - PA 06/00178/B - Erection of a two storey and a single storey extensions to create additional living accommodation - Permitted - PA 06/00974/B - Erection of a single storey orangery - Permitted - PA 06/02081/B - Conversion and enlargement of guest accommodation to create family dwelling - Refused - PA 07/00402/B - Erection of an extension to guest accommodation - Approved at Appeal **REPRESENTATIONS** Lonan Parish Commissioners have approved the proposal. The Department of Transport Highways Division has not commented on the proposed development. **ASSESSMENT** Given the nature of the proposed development it is therefore appropriate to assess the impact of the proposal upon the existing property and upon the surrounding countryside. The proposed extension and alterations would be scaled, designed and finished to ensure that the new built form would blend in with the existing. The alterations would be relatively modest in appearance and would be sympathetic to the character of the existing building when viewed from the public thoroughfare. In terms of visual impact of the building on the locality, the proposal would be contained entirely within the setting of the house. Due to the high roadside boundary wall and boundary treatment; the siting of the extension to the south eastern corner of the dwelling; the distance from the road side and with the structure of single storey, the proposal would only be seen through partial breaks in the trees when viewed from Church Road (to the east) which would result in the proposal not appearing. unduly prominent. As such, the new built form would have no harmful impact on the character or appearance of the countryside. The proposed extension would be in accordance with Housing Policy 15 as it would be within the 50% of the existing building in terms of floor space (measured externally) - the proposal would have an approximate increase of 34%. **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: - Lonan Parish Commissioners - The Department of Transport Highways Division **Recommendation** - **Recommended Decision:** Permitted - **Date of Recommendation:** 24.09.2009 **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. ## **C 2.** This approval relates to the submitted Drawings SC 793/P/00-01, SC 793/P/00-02, SC 793/P/10-00, SC 793/P/10-01, SC 793/P/10-02 and SC 793/P/10-03 all received on 13th July, 2009. ## **C 3.** The external finishes of the extension must match those of the existing property. 24 September 2009 09/01166/B Page 3 of 4 I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 09/09 Delegation of functions, 10/09 Delegation of Functions (Development Procedure), GC No 11/09 (Advertisements) and GC No 12/09 (Registered Buildings) all to the Senior Planning Officer Decision Made : Permitted Date : 25/9/9 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/63599-lonan-the-old-vicarage-dwelling/documents/1383788*