**Document:** Officer Planning Report Recommendations **Application:** 08/02286/C — Use of part of main car park to accommodate motorhomes for temporary stay **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2010-01-15 **Parish:** German **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/64140-st-johns-st-john-s-football/documents/1391664 --- # Officer Planning Report Recommendations ## Planning Report And Recommendations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Considerations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Written Representations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Consultations [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] ## Officer's Report ### The Site The application site relates to St Johns Football Club, Foxdale Road, St Johns. The site includes the clubhouse, two areas of hardstanding used as car parks, a large grassed area which includes the football pitch and an all weather pitch. The site is bounded on all sides by hedging and trees. To the northern boundary is the sheltered housing complex Magher Vay and to the north east is the route of the now dismantled railway line which is a public footpath. The club house and main car park are adjacent to the Foxdale Road boundary which provides the two vehicular accesses to the site. The site is owned by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and is leased to the applicant. The site is divided by the Parish boundaries of Patrick and German local authorities. ### The Proposal This application seeks approval for the use of the main car park to accommodate motorhomes for temporary stays. The application form sets out that a maximum of 12 motorhomes would be accommodated at any one time and would be served by electrical hook-ups and a waste disposal facility. The club house would provide additional facilities to persons staying at the site. Approximately 45 parking spaces would remain for those using the football ground and/or the camp site proposed under concurrent application 08/02287/C. ### Planning Status The application site is located within an area identified by the St Johns Local Plan as Open Space For Particular Use, in this case Recreational use. Paragraph 3.5 of the Local Plan identifies the site and the adjacent cricket pitch as being the principal recreation area for St Johns which are important to the village and community and no changes are proposed to these areas. ### Planning History The following previous planning applications are considered relevant in the assessment and determination of this application: 01/02311/B Sought approval for the extension of the clubhouse, creation of new astro turf training area and extension of car parking area. This was a split decision with the removal of the sod bank which separates the football ground from the cricket ground being refused. 94/01412/D sought approval for signage. This was also a split decision with a proposed free standing sign to be located at the entrance being refused. ### Representations The Department of Transport Drainage Division does not object to this application subject to a condition relating to the disposal of waste. The owners/occupiers of California, St Johns have commented on this application questioning how long the temporary period of stay would be and providing some recommended parameters for the length of stay allowable. The owners/occupiers of Elmfield Cottage, Patrick Corner, St Johns object to this application on the grounds that the site has already been being used to accommodate motorhomes and one particular stay caused disturbance. They consider the club to be incapable of managing the proposed use and feel that the existing access is unsuitable for motorhomes. Patrick Parish Commissioners support the application subject to the maximum continuous stay being 3 weeks and the current one way system of separate entrance and exit to the campsite being maintained. The owner/occupiers of Thie Gennal, Foxdale Road, St Johns have commented on the concurrent applications questioning how long the temporary stay will be, suggesting that 1 month would be a sufficient limit. The use of a one way access arrangement is encouraged. The owner/occupier of Cronkdhoo Farm, main Road, Greeba objects to this application stating that the use would be incongruous and out of keeping with the village and that the sporting facilities should be protected. The availability of sites in Greeba and Peel is highlighted. German Parish Commissioners support this application. The Department of Tourism and Leisure supports this application. The applicant has submitted letters of support from persons that have used the facility. The Department of Transport Highways Division does not object to this application stating that there will be no adverse impact upon highway capacity or safety. ### Assessment The main issues to be considered in the assessment of this application are whether the proposed development would adversely affect the surrounding area, the site's function as a recreational facility, or the amenity of adjacent properties. The use of the main car park to accommodate motorhomes would be visible from the main road which is adjacent to the site's western boundary. However the site benefits from existing screening in the form of a hedge and tree planting and it is judged that the visual impact would not be a sufficient reason to decline the application. The Department of Transport Highways Division has assessed the capability of the existing access to serve the proposed use and concluded that these are sufficient. It is judged that the proposed use of the car park for motorhomes would not detract from the surrounding area so as to warrant refusal. The submitted plan identifies a specific area in which motorhomes would be parked up. There would remain a large proportion of the main car park available for persons using the football facilities and in addition to this, the car park adjacent to the all-weather pitch would also be available. It is not considered that the proposal would displace vehicles from the car park onto the highway and the Department of Transport Highways Division does not object to the application. It is judged that the proposal will not undermine the use of the site as a recreational facility to an extent that would render the proposal unacceptable. It is important that any development approved by the Planning Authority protects the amenity of adjacent properties to an acceptable level. Whilst the majority of third parties commenting on the application have not objected to the scheme, it is understandable that there are concerns as to how the site would be managed, particularly in terms of how long visitors will be allowed to stay. The applicant has clarified that the longest permissible stay would be during the TT festival when an overall period of 4 weeks would be the maximum length of stay. This, along with where motorhomes are allowed to be parked and the maximum number of motorhomes can be controlled through condition. It is judged that it would be possible to control the proposed use so as to maintain an acceptable level of amenity to those neighbouring the site. ### Recommendation Permit. ## 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 - The owners/occupiers of California, St Johns - Patrick Parish Commissioners - The owner/occupiers of Thie Gennal, Foxdale Road, St Johns - German Parish Commissioners - The Department of Tourism and Leisure - The Department of Transport Highways Division Accordingly the following parties are not granted Interested Party Status: - The owner/occupier of Cronkdhoo Farm, Main Road, Greeba - The owners/occupiers of Elmfield Cottage, Patrick Corner, St Johns ### Recommendation **Recommended Decision:** Permitted **Date of Recommendation:** 23.12.2009 ### 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 the use of the main car park to accommodate motorhomes for temporary stay, St Johns Football Club, Foxdale road, St Johns as shown by Location, Site and Photograph received 16th December 2009 and Applicant Letter, Transport Statement and Motorhome Details received 1st October 2009. #### C 3. The use of the site for the temporary stay of motorhomes shall be undertaken in accordance with the following: - (i) Motorhomes shall not be occupied as a person’s sole, or main place of residence; - (ii) the owners/operators of the site shall maintain an up-to-date register of the names of all owners/occupiers of individual motorhomes on the site, and of their main home addresses, and shall make this information available at all reasonable times to the Planning Authority. - (iii) the owners/operators of the site shall record the time and date of initial arrival and final departure of all motorhomes to and from the site and shall make this information available at all reasonable times to the Planning Authority. C 4. The area shown hatched on the plan Motorhome Details may be used to accommodate the temporary stay of motorhomes for a maximum continuous period of 4 weeks with no return within 3 months. C 5. No more than 12 motorhomes may be on the site at any one time. 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: APPROVED Committee Meeting Date: 10-1-2002 Signed: [Handwritten signature] Presenting Officer Further to the decision of the Committee an additional report/condition reason is required. Signing Officer to delete as appropriate YES/NO see file note --- *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/64140-st-johns-st-john-s-football/documents/1391664*