**Document:** Officer Planning Report Recommendation **Application:** 08/01387/B — Conversion of farm building into ancillary accommodation **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2008-10-10 **Parish:** German **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/85910-greeba-rhenny-mooar-conversion/documents/1528862 --- # Officer Planning Report Recommendation **Application No.:** ** 08/01387/B ** **Applicant:** ** Mr W Bennett ** **Proposal:** ** Conversion of farm building into ancillary accommodation ** **Site Address:** ** - Rhenny Mooar Farm - Rhenny Mooar Lane - Greeba - Isle Of Man - IM4 2DT ### Considerations **Case Officer:** Mr Steve Stanley ** **Photo Taken:** ** - **Site Visit:** - **Expected Decision Level:** - Delegation ### Written Representations - **Seacliffe Old Castletown Road** Ballaveare Braddan - **Interest expressed** ### Consultations **Consultee:** Highways Division **Notes:** Defer **Consultee:** German Parish Commissioners **Notes:** No Objections ### Officer's Report #### The Site The application site represents the curtilage of Rhenny Mooar Farm, Rhenny Mooar Lane, Greeba. The site is located at the end of Rhenny Mooar Lane and is occupied by a detached dwelling, a modern agricultural barn and a stone farm building. #### Planning Status The application site is located within an area identified as being of High Landscape or Coastal Value and Scenic Significance by the 1982 Development Order. Within the adopted Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007, the following policy is considered to be relevant: **Housing Policy 11, which states:** "Conversion of existing rural buildings into dwellings may be permitted, but only where: - (a) redundancy for the original use can be established; - (b) the building is substantially intact and structurally capable of renovation; - (c) the building is of architectural, historic, or social interest; - (d) the building is large enough to form a satisfactory dwelling, either as it stands or with modest, subordinate extension which does not affect adversely the character or interest of the building; - (e) residential use would not be incompatible with adjoining established uses or, where appropriate, land-use zonings on the area plan; and - (f) the building is or can be provided with satisfactory services without unreasonable public expenditure. Such conversion must: - (a) where practicable and desirable, re-establish the original appearance of the building; and - (b) use the same materials as those in the existing building. Permission will not be given for the rebuilding of ruins or the erection of replacement buildings of similar, or even identical, form. Further extension of converted rural buildings will not usually be permitted, since this would lead to loss or reduction of the original interest and character." ## Planning History There are no previous planning applications considered relevant in the assessment and determination of this application. ### Representations Marown Parish Commissioners do not object to this application. The Department of Transport Highways Division has deferred comment on this application stating that the proposed office use is not known and this could create traffic. Clarification has been sought from the applicant who stated that the office is to be for his own private use. The owner/occupier of Seacliffe, Old Castletown Road, Ballaveare, Braddan has commented on this application. ### The Proposal This application seeks approval for the conversion of an existing stone barn to form ancillary accommodation to the main dwelling. The barn would provide a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor and an office/studio with kitchenette on the ground floor. Externally the building would be fitted with new painted hardwood windows, the roof would be re-roofed with dark slate and the 2 no. "Heritage" rooflights would be installed to the rear elevation. ### Assessment Housing Policy 11 sets out the criteria for assessing whether a rural building may be eligible for conversion to a residential use. It is judged that this proposal would accord with the provisions of this policy as the building is of sufficient interest to warrant its preservation through re-use, its original use is redundant and the building is structurally capable of repair. The proposed development would result in an improved external appearance, using traditional materials in a sympathetic manner. The concerns originally raised by the Department of Transport Highways Division have been addressed through additional information supplied by the applicant and it is considered that through the attachment of a condition limiting the use of the building, there would be no adverse impacts upon highway safety as a result of this development. ### 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: German Parish Commissioners The Department of Transport Highways Division Accordingly the following parties are not granted Interested Party Status: The owner/occupier of Seadiffe, Old Castletown Road, Ballaveare, Braddan ### Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 01.10 .2008 ### 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 approval relates to the conversion of an agricultural building to form ancillary living accommodation and an office/studio as shown by the plans and information 1.1629 P01, 1.1629 P02, 1.1629 P03, 1.1629.01 and Completed Checklist submitted and date stamped 16th July 2008. ### C 3. The roof must be finished in dark natural slate. ### C 4. All windows and doors must be constructed from hardwood. ### C 5. The approved office/studio may be used only by persons residing at the property Rhenny Mooar Farm. ### N 1. The applicant's attention is drawn to Housing Policy 11 which sets out that permission will not be given for the rebuilding of ruins or the erection of replacement buildings of similar, or even identical, form. As such care should be taken to ensure that any works do not undermine the structural stability of the building. I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 44/05 (Delegation of Functions to Director of Planning and Building Control) Decision Made : Permitted Date : Signed : 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/85910-greeba-rhenny-mooar-conversion/documents/1528862*