**Document:** DEC Officer Report **Application:** 20/01314/D — Installation of signage on 12 external windows at the front and side of the property, and one JTC Logo on the external wall to the right of the entrance **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2021-03-04 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** report / officer_report **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/6839-braddan-quay-west-installation-windows/documents/924679 --- # DEC Officer Report **Application No.:** 20/01314/D **Applicant:** JTC Trustees (IOM) Limited **Proposal:** Installation of signage on 12 external windows at the front and side of the property, and one JTC Logo on the external wall to the right of the entrance **Site Address:** Quay West Bridge Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 5NA Senior **Planning Officer:** Mr Jason Singleton **Site Visit:** 09.02.2021 **Expected Decision Level:** Officer Delegation **Recommended Decision:** Permitted **Date of Recommendation:** 01.03.2021 _________________________________________________________________ ## Conditions and Notes for Approval C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The advertisement(s) hereby granted consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. Reason: To avoid the accumulation of unimplemented advertisement consents. This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. The proposed sign would be appropriate to the building, of a high standard and would not cause any unacceptable harm, therefore complying with GP 6 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. Plans/Drawings/Information; This approval relates to drawings referenced; Location Plan; Boardroom Window; Front View and External logo sizing, all digitally submitted and received on 23 November 2020. _______________________________________________________________ ### Interested Person Status – Additional Persons None _____________________________________________________________________________ ### Officer’s Report 1.0 THE SITE - 2.0 The application site is the curtilage of a residential apartment complex which also incorporates an office unit and restaurant at ground floor level. The building fronts on to Bridge Road opposite the tongue car park. 2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the installation of signage on 12 external windows at the front and side of the property, and one "JTC Logo" on the external wall to the right of the entrance doors fronting onto Bridge Road. The 12 window 'signs' are essentially frosted glazing to the lower half of the windows with either the company's Logo or name centrally positioned within the lower half. The main lettering and logo fronting onto Bridge Road are 30mm aluminium text letters with a face applied printed vinyl detail. The 'JTC' Logo would measure 1080mm x 400mm. This would sit centrally within a blank façade measuring 4m wide and 2m deep. ## - 3.0 PLANNING POLICY 3.1 The local plan policy, identifies the site within an area designated on the Area Plan for the East as "The Quayside". Within the written statement at Para.9.10.10 the area is designated as Mixed use area No. 7 (page 87) - with a presumption in favour of food/drink and leisure activities. Also highlights redevelopment of South Quay and suggested uses. The Area plan generally falls silent on any adverts or signage. - 3.2 The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 make it clear that the only considerations which can be applied to applications made under them are in the interests of amenity and public safety. In the case of amenity, such things as the general characteristics of the area need to be taken into account along with the presence of any features of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest and the public safety should consider the safety of any person using a road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome including the obscuration of any traffic sign or similar. - 3.3 Regulation 5(3) of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013 reads as follows: "Unless it appears to the Department to be required in the interests of amenity or public safety, an express consent for the display of advertisements must not contain any limitation or restriction relating to the subject matter, content or design of what is to be displayed". - 3.4 In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains two policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application, - 3.5 Paragraph 6.6.2 (Advertisements) of the Strategic Plan notes that well designed and sensitively sited advertisements can contribute positively to the character of a building or area and can help the public, whilst those which are too bright, over large or poorly sited may endanger highway safety by distraction and may, individually or cumulatively, detract from amenity by intrusion, clutter, visual confusion or by masking features of interest. - 3.6 General Policy 6 states that "Within our town 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 material 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 highway safety hazard." ## - 4.0 PLANNING HISTORY 4.1 The application site has not been the subject of any previous planning applications that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application. - 5.0 REPRESENTATIONS 5.1 Douglas Borough Council were written to on 15.01.2021 and at the time of writing no comments had been received. 5.2 Highways Services do not object (02/02/21) - 6.0 ASSESSMENT 6.1 The fundamental issues to consider in the assessment of this planning application is; the impact of the proposed signage on the character on the ground floor of Quay West , Douglas; 6.2 The proposed form of signage would be considered relevant to the site / the buildings use and would be appropriate on the appearance of the front façade and to the lower proportions of the windows. The sign or the initials JTC is of a high quality of design and material that would be centrally positioned on a plain rendered wall adjacent to the doorway and is directly relevant to the use of the this part of the ground floor. On balance, the size and scale of the proposed signage is not considered to cause a detrimental impact on public or private amenity and given it size and scale in relation to the context on the front elevation of this building would be appropriate. - 7.0 CONCLUSION 7.1 The application is recommended for approval as it is considered the proposed sign would be appropriate to the building and would not cause any unacceptable harm, therefore complying with GP 6 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. - 8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013 (As Amended), the following persons are automatically interested persons: - o The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent; - o Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material; - o The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated. - o the Highways, Ports and Railways divisions of the Department of Infrastructure. 8.2 The decision maker must determine: - o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than those explicitly listed above) are material; and - o whether there are other persons to those listed above who should be given Interested Person Status. I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status. Decision Made : Permitted Date: 02.03.2021 Determining officer Signed : C BALMER Chris Balmer Principal Planner ## Customer note ## This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the file copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online services/customers and archive records. --- *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/6839-braddan-quay-west-installation-windows/documents/924679*