**Document:** Officer Planning Report
**Application:** 06/01513/R — Continued use of unit for car workshop and sales
**Decision:** Permitted
**Decision Date:** 2006-10-20
**Parish:** Braddan
**Document Type:** report / officer_report
**Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/81628-braddan-carrs-lane/documents/1479982

---

# Officer Planning Report

### Considerations [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Written Representations ### Consultations

### Officer's Report

THE APPLICATION SITE AND PLANNING APPLICATION The application site comprises the curtilage of a unit that is located on Tromode Estate in Onchan. The planning application seeks retrospective approval for the use of the unit for repairs and vehicle sales.

### Planning History

Whilst the application site has been the subject of a number of previous planning applications it is considered that none of these are specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application.

### Representations

Onchan District Commissioners recommend that the planning application be refused. The grounds for their objection can be summarised as concern that the introduction of car sales into an industrial area is not justified and that the application does not give adequate reason why the operation could not be undertaken within a town centre location.

The Disability Access Office requests that the needs of disabled access are taken into account.

### Planning Policy

The application site is within area defined as being in light industrial use under the Onchan Local Plan.

Policy O/I/P/3 of the written statement (Planning Circular 1/2000) that accompanies the Onchan Local Plan states:

"Where land is designated for industry, the accepted use of this land will be for light industrial purposes as is defined in the 1982 Development Plan Order: that is

"light industrial building (not being a special industrial building in which the processes carried on or the machinery installed are such as could be carried on or installed in any residential area without detriment to the amenity of the area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit or undue generation of traffic or parking of vehicles". (Part 1, paragraph 2 – page 2).

### Assessment

It is reasonable to say that the overall use of the estate is becoming more diverse, with existing uses ranging from car body repairs to furniture sales. As such it is considered that the principle of the use of the unit for the proposed use is acceptable within context of the overall uses within the estate.

Furthermore, it is believed to be reasonable to say that sites for accommodating uses of the type proposed by this planning application are quite limited throughout the Island. The sale of motor vehicles is not generally recognised as being a town centre retail use.

After principle, the issue to examine is the operational impact of the use on the use of the estate. In terms of this it is apparent that the operation of the business is not unduly affecting the operation of the other units and business within the estate. As well as there being general areas for car parking within the overall estate the unit itself has dedicated customer parking spaces.

It is recommended that the planning application be approved.

### Party Status

It is considered that all parties that made representations to the planning application meet the criteria of Government Circular 1/06 and should be afforded interested party status.

[Table omitted in markdown export]

I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular Nos 44/05 (Delegation of Functions to Director of Planning and Building Control) and 47/05 (Delegation of Functions to Senior Planning Officer)

Decision Made : Permitted Date: 19/10/2016

Signed: [Handwritten signature]

M. I. McCauley Director of Planning and Building Control

---

*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/81628-braddan-carrs-lane/documents/1479982*