**Document:** Officer Planning Report Recommendations **Application:** 08/00189/C — Change of use of existing retail unit to an estate agency **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2008-04-03 **Parish:** German **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/84935-german-former-looneys-building-change-of-use/documents/1522937 --- # Officer Planning Report Recommendations **Application No.:** 08/00189/C **Applicant:** Harmony Homes Ltd **Proposal:** Change of use of existing retail unit to an estate agency **Site Address:** Former Looneys Building 2 Michael Street Peel Isle Of Man IMS 1HA ### Considerations Case Officer : Mr Steve Stanley **Expected Decision Level:** Delegated Decision Senior DC Officer ### Written Representations ### Consultations Consultee : Highways Division Notes: no objection Consultee : Peel Town Commissioners Notes: No objection Consultee : T M Crookall MHK Notes : Consultee : Chief Fire Officer Notes: Note received ### Officer's Report ### The Site The application site represents the curtilage of the former "Looneys" building, 2 Michael Street, Peel. The building occupies a prominent corner location at the western end of the street. ### Planning Status The application site is located within an area identified as being "Mixed Use" by the Peel Local Plan (Planning Circular 6/89) and is also located within the Peel Conservation Area. ### Planning History The following previous planning applications are considered relevant in the assessment and determination of this application: Planning application 02/01961/B sought planning approval for the conversion of the upper floors of the building into five one-bedroom apartments. This was approved 19th May 2003. Planning application 02/02172/C sought planning approval to change the use of the ground floor retail unit to a coffee shop. This was approved 24th April 2003. Planning approval 03/01605/B sought planning approval for the creation of three shops on the ground floor and the conversion of the upper floors to four apartments with external alterations. This was permitted 6th February 2004. #### Representations The Department of Transport Highways Division has not objected to this application. Peel Town Commissioners indicate no objection to this application. The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service attaches a note to any subsequent approval. We have received no privately written representations in relation to this planning application. #### The Proposal This application seeks approval for the change of use of the existing ground and basement floor retail unit (unit 2) to an estate agency. This unit is the largest of the three having a large glazed shop front which extends around the corner of the street. #### Assessment The site is within an area of Mixed Use and as such the change to an estate agency is considered to be acceptable. The main issue to be considered in the assessment of this application is whether the proposed change of use would result in any unacceptable adverse impacts upon the surrounding locality and the existing building and its uses. The change from a retail use to an estate agency is considered to represent a relatively minor change. The demands that a retail use places on a site are likely to be similar or potentially greater than those of an estate agency as a result of associated operations such as deliveries. As such it is considered that the estate agency use would have no noticeable impact upon the surrounding area in terms of demand on the building and would not impact negatively upon the amenities of the locality. #### Recommendation It is recommended that the application be approved. #### Party Status It is considered that the following parties, who submitted comments, accord with the requirements of Planning Circular 1/06 and are therefore, afforded Interested Party Status: - The Department of Transport Highways Division - Peel Town Commissioners Accordingly the following parties are not granted Interested Party Status: - The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service --- **Recommendation** **Recommended Decision:** Permitted 27 March 2008 08/00189/C ## Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal ### C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal 0 : 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 approval relates to the change of use of Retail Unit 2 of 2 Michael Street, Peel as shown by the plans-and-information-Location-Plan, HAR/08/02A and HAR/08/02B submitted and date stamped 1st February 2008. HARIO 8/01 N 1. The applicant is advised to consult with the Fire Safety Department to ensure that the fire safety measures within the building are satisfactory and that the flats which appear to be above the shop comply with the Fire Precautions (Flats) Regulations 1996. I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 31/07 (Delegation of Functions to Senior Planning Officer) Decision Made : Permitted Date : Signed : Mrs F Mullen Senior Planning Officer --- *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/84935-german-former-looneys-building-change-of-use/documents/1522937*