**Document:** DEC Decision Notice **Application:** 13/00477/D — Erection of advertising signage **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2013-06-12 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** decision / decision_notice **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/4311-braddan-4-summerhill-road-signage/documents/910307 --- # DEC Decision Notice David Cain Home Strategic Ltd Millenium Park Studio Ballafletcher Road Cronkbourne Douglas IM4 4QJ ## Town and Country Planning Act 1999 ### The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2005 In pursuance of powers granted under the above Act and Regulations the Department of Infrastructure has, under application reference 13/00477/D, given EXPRESS CONSENT to IOM Hearing Solutions Ltd for the erection of advertising signage at 4 Summerhill Road Onchan Isle Of Man IM3 1LZ subject to compliance with the following condition(s): 1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. 2. The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in full accordance with the following plans: IOMHS/04/13/A, IOMHS/04/13/B, IOMHS/04/13/C, IOMHS/04/13/D and the untitled elevation drawing, received on 18 April 2013. NOTE The illumination should be provided by a non-intermittent source. NOTE The use of the unit as a shop is not currently an authorised use. Retrospective planning permission for the shop use should be sought, which, if permitted, would prevent enforcement action being taken. Date of Issue: 12th June 2013 ### M ballayher Director of Planning and Building Control ### Guidance Note This decision was made by a Senior Planning Officer in accordance with the authority delegated to them. This permission refers only to that required under The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2005. Any appeal against this decision must be in writing and must be received by this Department within 21 days of the date of this notice. An appeal form and guidance notes are available from either the Planning Office, Tel 685950, or to download from the Department's website www.gov.im/transport/planning/plan/applications/decision.xml Please note that a copy of the Officer's report which led to the decision, together with correspondence relative to the application, are available for inspection at the Department. The proposed development must not be commenced until either; - The time for requesting an appeal has expired; or - Any appeal has been determined; Whichever is the later. If no appeal is lodged within 21 days of the date of issue overleaf, and this decision becomes final, the Department's public reference copy (counter copy) of the planning application may be collected by the applicant or their agent from Murray House. Please note that if the counter copy of the application is not collected within THIRTY DAYS following the last date on which a planning appeal can be made it will be destroyed without further notice. Department of Infrastructure, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2SF Tel (01624 685950) email; planning@gov.im $13 / 00477 / D$ ### Officer's Report [Table omitted in markdown export] #### 1.0 The Application Site 1.1 The application site is 4 Summerhill Road, Onchan. It one of four retail units on the south east side of Summerhill Road, at the roundabout that connects Summerhill Road with Governor's Road (the A2). The premises, a hearing aid shop, is two storeys high and it is likely that there are flats above. There are other business premises in the area (notably, Corkhills petrol station, a funeral director and a building supplies unit). #### 2.0 The Proposal 2.1 The application seeks advertisement consent for new signage, which consists of individual stainless steel lettering. The proposal also makes reference to new, grey slate tiling to replace the existing pebbledash exterior. Lighting for the new signage is already in situ and will be retained and as such the proposal is for non-illuminated signage. 2.2 No dimensions for the size of the individual letters have been provided, but the full area where the lettering would be located measures 0.87m x 6.58m. The main lettering for the business appears to be roughly 0.30m high, with additional lettering and the business logo appearing above and measuring approximately 0.15m high #### 3.0 Planning History 3.1 02/01835 - Planning permission was granted for the change of use from a Spar shop (A1) to a solarium (sui generis) in 2002. #### 4.0 Planning Policy 4.1 The site is within an area recognised as being mixed use (office / residential / retail) in the Onchan Local Plan 2000. 4.2 General Policy 6 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 applies: 'Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they: (a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed; (b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; (c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard, and (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality' 4.2 General Policy 7 also applies: 'Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements on sites or buildings other than those to which they relate will not generally be permitted.' ## 5.0 Representations 5.1 Onchan District Commissioners recommend the application be approved. 5.2 The Highways Department do not oppose the application as it has no traffic management, parking or road safety implications. #### 6.0 Assessment 6.1 In reaching a conclusion on this application, two main issues are considered: (1) the impact of the proposals on the shop unit itself, and (2) the impact of the proposals on the character and amenity of the streetscene. 6.2 In respect of the first issue, it is considered that the proposed signage would be an improvement over the existing signage. Currently in place is a white wooden board that, although well-maintained, is not as aesthetically pleasing as individual and pronounced stainless steel lettering, particularly when set against the background of the proposed grey slate. 6.3 Turning to the second issue, it is considered that the current wooden sign complements the other signage in the row of four business units and the proposals including the provision of the slate - would represent a departure from the local vernacular. However, it is considered that there is limited aesthetical merit in the surrounding area pebbledash being the predominant facing material - and that matching local materials and styles should only be considered an appropriate approach where those materials and styles are successful. As such, the proposals would arguably improve the streetscene. 6.4 There would be no adverse impacts on highway or public safety. 6.5 There is no lighting proposed as part of the application, which therefore does not allow the Planning Department any control over the method of illumination. This is unfortunate as it would be preferable to attach a condition ensuring, in the interests of visual amenity, that the signage is not lit by an intermittent light source. Although this in itself is not sufficient to represent a reason for refusal, a Note to this effect is attached to the Decision Notice. 6.6 It is apparent from the planning history that the current use is not authorised. The previous use, a tanning salon, was granted planning permission in 2002 via a change of use application that ceased the unit's authorised use as a shop. As such, it follows that a (retrospective) change of use application would, if approved, enable the tanning salon use to revert back to a shop use. Although the applicants' agent has advised that some consultancy work also takes place within the premises, it is a matter of fact that the primary use is as a shop. The applicants' agent has been advised that a retrospective planning application is required to regularise this use. A Note to this effect is attached to the Decision Notice. ## 7.0 Recommendation 7.1 It is recommended that the planning application is approved with conditions. #### 8.0 Party Status 8.1 The Local Authority, Onchan District Commissioners, is by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5)(d) granted Interested Party Status. 8.2 The Department of Transport Highways and Traffic Division is now part of the Department of Infrastructure of which the planning authority is part. As such, the Highways and Traffic Division cannot be afforded party status in this instance. ### Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted ### 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
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. The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in full accordance with the following plans: IOMHS/04/13/A, IOMHS/04/13/B, IOMHS/04/13/C, IOMHS/04/13/D and the un-titled elevation drawing, received on 18 April 2013. N 3. If possible, the illumination should be provided by a non-intermittent source. N 4. The use of the unit as a shop is not currently an authorised use. Retrospective planning permission for the shop use should be sought, which, if permitted, would prevent enforcement action being taken. I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to Director of Planning and Building Control / Development Control Manager/ Senior Planning Officer. **Decision Made:** Permitted **Date:** .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. PA13/00477/D IOM Hearing Solutions Ltd Erection of advertising signage, 4 Summerhill Road Onchan Isle Of Man IM3 1LZ Planning Officer: Planning history and constraint detail extracted from the planning database for this site, collated for the benefit of the Planning Officer on 24.04.2013, includes; Dev Control Polygons: Reference Number: 02/01835/B Status: Permitted Proposal: Change of use from Spar shop to solarium including the erection of signage Reference Number: 91/01447/B Status: Permitted Proposal: Construction of new roof over existing flat roof, 2- 14 Summerhill Road, Onchan. --- *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/4311-braddan-4-summerhill-road-signage/documents/910307*