**Document:** Planning Approval Statement **Application:** 06/01123/A — Approval in principle for cottage to be used as guest accommodation / granny annex and demolition of existing greenhouse and erection of a replacement dwelling **Decision:** Refused **Decision Date:** 2006-09-07 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** report / planning_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/81256-greeba-kerrow-ny-glough-cottage-replacement-demolition/documents/1475622 --- # Planning Approval Statement Re: Kerroo-ny-Glough Cottage, Mill Road, Greeba Applicant: Nigel Kermode - owner 06 JUL 2006 ## Basic Intention This application seeks to substantially increase the living accommodation of this very small Manx cottage on this very large site, without compromising the cottage. We aim to rejuvenate the site by doing two things. 1) Utilise the cottage as guest accommodation/granny flat by demolishing the existing lean-to and replacing it with a new kitchen and wheelchair friendly bedroom. (My father is 91 and presently lives on his own.) 2) Demolish an existing commercial greenhouse and replace it with living quarters. Plans for this have not yet been drawn, but we envisage a two story dwelling, no greater in size than that of our immediate neighbours. The site is almost entirely screened from the roadway. Please see attached statement for more information. We are taking this route after talking to planning officer Mullen. ![A photograph of a white single-story cottage or bungalow featuring a large light blue conservatory, surrounded by dense trees and vegetation.](https://images.planningportal.im/2006/07/555838.jpg) ## General Statement ![A photograph of a white-washed cottage with a slate roof and a large glass greenhouse structure attached to the side.](https://images.planningportal.im/2006/07/555839.jpg) I have lived at this address for well over twenty years. I am married with a four year old son. Whereas the little Manx cottage on the site may have been adequate for a young couple in the 70's, it is far from ideal for a family today. Our lifestyle has dramatically changed over the last two decades. We now have many more possessions and more free time, we need more space - and now we are three. Plainly, our tiny one bed-roomed cottage is far too small. Infact it became so difficult to live in after the birth of our son, we moved out. The largest room is just 3 meters wide. You have to stoop to enter the bedroom. With this planning application, it is our intention to create suitable accommodation to enable us to move back in to Greeba. Ironically, we own one of the largest plots in the village and have one of the smallest houses. The present cottage sits squashed up right on the boundary of the site, having some 60 meters of garden to its side. It is not ideally placed. It is heavily shaded by trees. A conservatory, designed by Ashley Pettit, was added about eight years ago. This has been hugely successful and has attracted much praise, but does not give us the bathroom, kitchen and bedroom space we need. With the aid of Mr. Pettit we have been trying to design a sympathetic extension to the rear of the cottage. This has proved most challenging. Planning approval was granted to a design in 2001 but we decided not to proceed. The problem is that the cottage is so small and so low, that any meaningful extension would dwarf it. The cottage is over 100 years old. It is of classic proportions, and is typically Manx. It would be unthinkable to demolish it. My architect has discussed the problems with the planning officer. We have followed her advice. ## The Proposed Scheme Our solution is to devise a scheme that brings the cottage back to life, with a modest addition of a new kitchen and bathroom etc. and to replace the existing old greenhouse and potting shed, with new living accommodation. The garden is huge, the commercially sized greenhouse is redundant. This would create a close-knit group of buildings, like a Manx farmstead, tied together by the 'yard' or driveway. The cottage will become the guest annex/'granny flat' Resolving the situation this way will retain the cottage and free us from the restraints of trying to graft a large extension on to it. It will also allow us to use modern materials and environmentally friendly technologies for the family home, without compromising the cottage. The proposal would involve demolishing the lean-to kitchen, the carport and the large greenhouse. This way, we will end up with a plan footprint much the same as exists at present. There are three buildings on the site now; there will be three buildings, in the same position, after the alterations. (See plans) This site is not on a main road, it is off a minor cul-de-sac. It is completely surrounded by trees and is not seen from the roadway, (just visible in winter). I have consulted with planning officer, Fiona Mullen, who was most helpful. It is her recommendation that I proceed by making this application. She also suggested that I give clear information about my intentions. I have tried to do this here. She said it would be much easier for her to recommend approval if I demolished the existing cottage, even though she agreed that demolition would be undesirable. She said that these cottages are disappearing. She suggested I enclose photographs to back up my claim that the cottage is a perfectly good example of rural Manx architecture and must be retained. It is not my intention to build a 'mock Manx' house on the site of the greenhouse. I would like to build a modern house of similar in size to that of our neighbours' that sits comfortably on the site. Planning officer Mullen agreed, saying that she would not insist on a Manx Vernacular style building, adding, "Planning has to move on". This would in any case, be subject to planning approval at a later date. I have been advised to request that this application be dealt with by the committee. Nigel Kermode --- *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/81256-greeba-kerrow-ny-glough-cottage-replacement-demolition/documents/1475622*