**Document:** Officer Planning Report Recommendations **Application:** 07/00728/GB — Application of render (In association with 07/00729/CON) **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2007-07-02 **Parish:** Malew **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/82917-malew-mill-tower/documents/1496630 --- # Officer Planning Report Recommendations ## Planning Report And Recommendations [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] ## Considerations [Table omitted in markdown export] ## Written Representations ## Consultations ## Officer's Report ### The Site The site represents the footprint of the mill at the heart of the Witches' Mill complex which comprises the mill and outbuildings, all situated on the southern side of Arbory Road, to the south west of Castletown centre. ### Planning Status The site lies within an area designated on the Castletown Local Plan (1991) as Light Industrial and on the draft Castletown Area Plan (2001) as Residential reflecting the change of use to residential which had occurred between the plans. ### Planning History The site has been the subject of the following applications: - PA 87/0676 - conversion of building into light industrial - permitted - PA 89/1364 - approval in principle for conversion of mill into living accommodation - permitted - PA 97/0571 - conversion of former windmill to dwelling - permitted ## The Proposal Now proposed are external changes to the finish, namely rendering the external walls in order to minimise the risk of rainwater penetration which is presently causing damage to the interior of the building. Information submitted with the application suggests that the mill was previously rendered and finished in an umber colour. The proposed involves finishing the building in a pigmented hydraulic lime mortar containing umber to replicate the original finish. Some of this can still be seen on the photograph on the front of the supporting photographs. The mortar previously on the building has all been removed. ## Assessment At the time of Registration in 1985 the building would appear to still have some of the render on it. Discussion between the Conservation section and their technical advisers would appear to support the rendering of the building as proposed in order to minimise internal damage and note is made that the building would appear to have been rendered previously. Whilst the Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside and Environment object to the application on the basis that application of the correct pointing combined with silicone treatment and internal heating, I am sure this course of action has been considered by the applicant, the Conservation Section and their advisers who are all in support of the application. ## Conservation Officer'S Supplementary 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. At the time the Witches Mill was registered on the 25th February 1985, it still retained large patches of render, so there is a historic justification for the rendering the building. The building was thoroughly refurbished in 1900 which included stripping off the remaining render to reveal the local limestone beneath. As is often the case with the Castletown sourced limestone, it is fairly well coursed but to my mind, this is more to do with the way in which the rock is set down in layers, than the builders actually trying to course the stone. Prior to the application being submitted, I was able to visit the building with the Engineers, The Morton Partnership and view the problems the building has for myself. Effectively, water ingress is damaging the building and any internal finishes. I have considered different 'traditional' methods of dealing with the water penetration including repointing, lime-washing etc. all of which were not considered to be able to solve the problems associated with it. When on site with The Morton Partnership, the Agent suggested the application of an external cladding system with a rendered finish. This will effectively provide an external barrier to the water penetration allowing rainfall and wind driven rain to be shed away from the outside of the building. This system is deemed acceptable in a conservation context as it is reversible and there is precedent for rendering the Mill in the past. The Morton Partnership suggested that the proposal utilised lime mortar as an external finish. This would mean that the expansion joints usually associated with large areas of render will thankfully not be present in this scheme. ## Recommendation: I recommend approval of this application. ## Party Status The Department of Transport and the local authority are, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (c) and (d), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status. The Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside and Environment is not directly affected by the proposal and should not be afforded party status in this case. ### Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 26.05.2007 ### 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 permission relates to the re-finishing of the external walls of the building in umber-coloured hydraulic lime mortar render as shown and described in the plans reference 5764 and 5764-01 and information all received on 16th April, 2007. C 3. PRIOR to the commencement of any building works, a photographic survey must be undertaken to record all existing internal and external features of interest, such a record to be prepared in consultation with the Conservation Officer of the Department Decision Made : ... Committee Meeting Date : ... --- *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/82917-malew-mill-tower/documents/1496630*