**Document:** Planning Officer Report **Application:** 06/01738/CON — Erection of advertising signage (In association with 06/017321D) **Decision:** Refused **Decision Date:** 2007-09-24 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/81781-braddan-8-finch-road-signage/documents/1482101 --- # Planning Officer Report ## Planning Report And Recommendations [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Considerations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Written Representations ### Consultations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Officer's Report #### The Site The site represents the curtilage of No.8 Finch Road an existing office building on the eastern side of Finch Road, opposite Stanley Mount in Douglas. The building is a two and a half storey property, gable end on to the road. The building is also registered, (RB095). #### Planning History - Internal and external refurbishment of office building. (03/01230/GB) Application Permitted - Erection of advertising signage (In association with 06/01738 CON). (06/01731/D) Application Pending #### The Proposal Proposed here is the erection of advertising signage to the frontage of the property. This consists of small, rectangular plaques, either side of the entrance door; single, raised lettering to the pediment and applied, transparent film to the inside face of the lower sash windows of all five windows onto Finch Road. ### Representations The Borough of Douglas has no objection. The Disability Access Officer’s comments as follows: Signage should be at a height that can be seen by everybody sitting and standing ### Assessment #### Conservation Officer’s report I have considered the content of the application with particular consideration to Policy RB/5 Alterations and Extensions to a Registered Building as set out in Planning Policy Statement 1/01. The works to the windows, which involves affixing a film to the rear of the windows is reversible and does not in my opinion, have a detrimental affect on the character of the registered building. The installation of the plaques either side of the entrance door is of a quality, simplicity of design and size that respect the character of the Registered Building and the single letter format of the signage in the pediment likewise, is of a quality, simplicity of design and size that does not detract from the character of the Registered Building. My only concern is that the frontage may have an over abundance of signage, but on balance, and given the relatively temporary nature of the signage, I consider that the proposals are acceptable and I therefore recommend approval of this application. #### Planning Officer’s Assessment - This is a joint report on the applications for Registered Building consent and express consent to display advertisements. - Section 16(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 states that “In considering whether to grant planning approval for development which affects a registered building or its setting, or whether to grant registered building consent for any works, the Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or is setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses”. - Policy RB/5 of PPS1/01 states “There will be a general presumption against alteration or extension of registered buildings, except where an convincing case can be made, against the criteria set out in this section, Applicants for registered building consent must be able to justify their proposals. They will be required to show why the works which would affect the character of the registered building are desirable or necessary and they should provide full information to enable the Department to assess the likely impact of their proposals on the special architectural or historic interest of the building and on its setting. Where registered buildings are the subject of successive applications for alteration or extension, consideration will also be given to the cumulative affect upon the building’s special interest as a result of several minor works which may individually seem of little consequence.” - In relation the advertisement application Regulation 3 (1) of The Control of Advertisements Regulations states that “the department shall exercise it powers under these Regulations only in the interests of amenity and public safety, taking account of any material factors, and in particular – - (a) in the case of amenity, the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest, disregarding, if they think fit, any advertisement being displayed there; - (b) in the case of public safety- - (i) the safety of any person who may use any road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome; - The building is located within an area zoned as predominantly offices. Some form of advertisement would be expected on a commercial building. However, since the building is a Registered Building particular care is needed to ensure that any advertisement does not adversely affect the character and appearance of the building. - The applicant is proposing to display a variety of advertisements on the building ranging from window vinyl to company plaques. Overall the proposal would introduce 11 advertisements to the building. 5 of the advertisements are currently being displayed on the building without express consent or registered building consent being in place. The advertisements in question are the 4 small company plaques and the name of the building plaque. These plaques are located on either side of the main entrance. - The advertisements which are being displayed on the building are relatively modest. I feel these advertisements do not detract from the overall special architectural quality of the registered building. I therefore consider these advertisements to be acceptable on their own. - However, the proposed vinyl advertisements are a completely different story. These advertisements along with the company plaques would introduce an inappropriate level of advertising on a building which is registered due to its special architectural character. The applicant appears to have completely disregarded the registered status of the building. The advertisements are an alien feature to a building of this nature. I consider the advertisements would adversely affect the special architectural character of the building and would be detrimental to the visual amenities of the streetscene. - The applicant has suggested withdrawing all of the vinyl advertisements from these applications apart from a single vinyl on ground floor (sign E). This would be an overall improvement to the scheme. However, I still consider a single vinyl advertisement would detract from the special architectural quality of the building and would be detrimental to the visual amenities of the streetscene. - I therefore recommend that Express Consent and Registered Building Consent be refused for the above reasons. ### Additional Report A suggested reduction in the level of advertising to the windows on the front elevation was made to the applicants. The applicants have not pursued this suggested amendment and as such I would concur with the recommendation of the case officer. Senior Planning Officer ### Party Status The Department of Transport and the Local Authority, by virtue of the The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2005, Regulation 9 (4) and (5), and the Registered Building Regulations are considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status. The Disability Access Office does not raise any issues in relation to public safety, amenity or affect to the registered building. I therefore consider that interested party states should not be granted to them. ### Recommendation Recommended Decision: Refused Date of Recommendation: ### 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 R 1. The proposal would introduce an inappropriate level of advertising onto a building which is registered due to its architectural quality. The proposed advertisements would adversely affect the special architectural character of the building within the street scene to the detriment of the visual amenities of the locality. 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 : Refused Date: 18/9/04 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/81781-braddan-8-finch-road-signage/documents/1482101*