E5

views across Douglas Bay and towards Port Groudle appreciated from the Howstrake Camp Electric tramway stop shall be protected from any development that would have a visual intrusion.

Laxey Bay (E5)

Landscape Character Area Laxey Bay (E5)

Landscape Strategy

Conserve and enhance:

1. the character, quality and distinctiveness of Laxey bay, with its harbour, beach and urban setting and to maintain the area's rich maritime and coastal habitats.

Key Views

Extensive, panoramic open views eastwards across the ever-changing seascape.

Grey stone wall of the harbour is a landmark within views westwards.

Views across the bay contained by protruding headlands to the North and South.

Dhoon Bay & Port Cornaa (E6)

Landscape Character Area Dhoon Bay & Port Cornaa (E6)

Landscape Strategy

Conserve:

1. the character, quality and distinctiveness of the tranquil and remote coastal area with its rich ecological habitats, open and expansive panoramic views and numerous sites of archaeological importance.

Key Views

Extensive, panoramic views across the sweeping and ever-changing seascape to the east can be gained from the rugged coastal edge.

Within the bays, views are more greatly limited by protruding headlands.

Panoramic, open views from the top of the series of rugged cliffs, eastwards across the sea and westwards towards the dramatic Northern Uplands backdrop.

Dramatic recognisable views northwards along the course of Ballaglass Glen from Port Cornaa.

Landscape Proposal 10

(for the Manx Electric Railway, the Mountain Railway and the Isle of Man Steam Railway).

This is applicable to those linear corridors for the named railway forms, the lines-of-sight required for their safe and continued operation and also as a consideration to sites proximate to those corridors and where the predominant view is of those corridors.

For the Isle of Man Steam Railway - Views as seen from Isle of Man Steam Railway are to be preserved; development which would significantly intrude on such views will generally not be supported. Safety and continued operability will require some clear line-of-sight corridors, and these shall be maintained.

For the Manx Electric Railway (including the Mountain Railway) - Views as seen from the Manx Electric Railway are to be preserved; development which would significantly intrude on such views will generally not be supported. Safety and continued operability will require some clear line-of-sight corridors, and these shall be maintained.

Prospective Applicants wishing to develop along these routes (which includes sites located adjacent to the boundary of the railway line or within close proximity to the transport corridors) should engage with the Department of Infrastructure for advice ahead of the submission of any planning application. Prior to any decision on a planning application for which Landscape Proposal 10 is relevant, advice will normally be sought from the Department of Infrastructure.

Features, vistas and landscapes which are not included here (Chapter 4) are still important. Where applications for planning approval come forward for consideration outside settlements, it is required that each design response demonstrates how the landscape is understood, how the design responds to that landscape and how colours, materials and finishes are selected that are suitable and within the contextual setting. This Chapter does not elaborate on the character of urban landscapes of the East; protection and enhancement of these features can be found in Chapter 6 - Urban Environment.

The Natural Environment

Introduction

Planning for the environment exists at the crucial juncture between human settlements and natural ecosystems. The East has a wealth of both. Dominated by the major settlements of Douglas and Onchan, the East contains nine distinct towns and villages in all, as well as smaller settlements and scattered dwellings and farmsteads.

Archaeology is an important part of our cultural and historic environment in the East. The absence of large-scale industrialisation and expansive modern infrastructure on the Island means that a significant amount of surface archaeology is still visible in the rural landscape. Scandinavian influences overlay the Celtic landscape and, in more recent history, abandoned buildings, or tholtans, have become a distinctive feature of the Manx rural landscape. In other areas, non-intensive agricultural management regimes mean that subterranean archaeology has remained undetected and must be a consideration for development particularly of greenfield sites outside of existing settlement boundaries.

Both scheduled and non-designated archaeological assets are a valuable resource for research and education, but can also be an asset for the promotion of leisure and tourism. Their interpretation and presentation to the public should be encouraged. However, such assets are a finite, and in some cases, fragile resource. They can be vulnerable to a