**Document:** Officer Planning Report
**Application:** 07/01310/B — Installation of a solar panel on roof
**Decision:** Permitted
**Decision Date:** 2007-09-25
**Parish:** Lonan
**Document Type:** report / officer_report
**Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/83560-lonan-verndale-installation-roof/documents/1505793

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# Officer Planning Report

## Planning Report And Recommendations [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Considerations ### Written Representations ### Consultations

### Officer's Report

THE APPLICATION SITE AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT The application site comprises the curtilage of a detached dwelling that is located on Glen Road in Laxey. The proposed development comprises of the installation of solar panel on the roof of the dwelling. PLANNING HISTORY

Whilst the application site has been the subject of one previous planning application it is considered that this is not specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application.

REPRESENTATIONS Laxey Village Commissioners have no objections to the planning application. The Department of Transport Highways Division do not oppose the planning application. PLANNING POLICY The application site is located within a Conservation Area.

In terms of strategic plan policy, in addition to policies identifying general planning considerations that are applicable to the assessment of a planning application the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains two policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of the current planning application:

Energy Policy 4 states:

"Development involving alternative sources of energy supply, including wind, water and tide power, and the use of solar panels, will be judged against the environmental objectives and policies set out in the Plan. Installations involving wind, water and tide power will require the submission of an EIA."

Environment Policy 35

"Within Conservation Areas, the Department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development."

In terms of local plan policy, the application site is within an area recognised as being within predominantly residential use under the Laxey and Lonan Area Plan Order 2005. The plan contains two policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of the current planning application:

Policy L/RES/PR/1 states:

"Residential development will generally only be approved within the study area in those areas designated as proposed and existing residential. In particular, in the case of Agneash no further dwellings will be approved although, as will be the case in areas zoned as residential, alterations and extensions to existing property may be accepted if such proposals are sympathetic to the character and appearance of both the building to be altered and the surrounding area in general."

The application site is also within a Conservation Area. Policy L/CRB/PR/4 of the Laxey and Lonan Area Plan Order 2005 states:

"Where an area is designated as a Conservation Area, special attention must be paid during the consideration of all planning applications within the area, to the desirability of preserving or enhancing its character or appearance in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1991 (12.(4)."

### Assessment

The visual impact of the proposed solar panel is relatively limited given its position on the roof and, as such, it is concluded that the setting of the Conservation Area is not particularly affected. The use of renewable energy sources should be actively supported by the Department and given the small domestic scale of the installation it would be unduly onerous to require the submission of an EIA, as put forward by Energy Policy 4. Indeed, the explanatory paragraph for Energy Policy 4 states that such assessment will not normally be required for domestic scale installations. The proposed development is considered to be unobjectionable.

It is recommended that the planning application be approved.

### Party Status

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

Laxey Village Commissioners; and The Department of Transport Highways Division.

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: 20/9/07

Signed: [Handwritten signature] M. I. McCauley Director of Planning and Building Control

[Table omitted in markdown export]

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*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/83560-lonan-verndale-installation-roof/documents/1505793*