H4

Policy: H4 - Housing Policy 4

Implications of the Landscape Character Assessment

Landscape Types - Coastal Cliffs, Incised Slopes, Uplands, Undulating Lowland Plain, Islands

Landscape Area - H2 (Fleshwick), H3 (Bradda Head), H4 (Cregneash Head and Meayll Peninsula), A2 (Southern Uplands), F8 (Poyll Vaaish and Scarlett Peninsula), J1 (Calf of Man).

1. A number of Landscape Character Types/Areas are identified in Rushen stretching from the Southern Uplands to the Meayll Peninsula. Care is needed in order to protect this array of different landscapes which include open and windswept coastal stretches and inland moorland, high and dramatic sea cliffs and pastoral and arable fields.
2. The Parish of Rushen is split into 3 distinct physical areas by the local authority areas of Port St Mary and Port Erin. The largest area stretching from its boundary with Patrick in the north to the boundaries of Port Erin and Port St Mary. The other 2 areas are the Meayll Peninsula and the Calf of Man. The Landscape Character Assessment stresses the importance of avoiding the coalescence of Ballafesson and Port Erin and also Port Erin and Port St Mary. Sufficient green space should be retained between the settlements of Ballafesson, Port Erin, Ballagawne/Ballakillowey, and Port St Mary to ensure preservation of their separate identities.
3. Avoid any new areas of ribbon development along the southern coastline at Bay ny Carrickey.

Landscape Proposal 9:

Additional new built development (other than development ancillary to existing properties) should not be permitted alongside the coastal road between the Shore Hotel and Pooil Vaaish Farm.

Landscape Proposal 10:

Any additional new built development on the Meayll Peninsula, other than very limited development near its northern edge at the former Marine Biological Station, should be avoided as such development would adversely affect the largely unspoilt character and appearance of the Peninsula and/or would diminish its role in providing a vegetated, undeveloped backdrop to Port Erin, Port St Mary and Cregneash.

Landscape Proposal 11:

Should the opportunity arise, the radio beacon on Cronk ny Arrey and other communications apparatus on the Meayll Peninsula should be removed or, if necessary, replaced by more modest and less intrusive structures.

Landscape Proposal 12:

The cluster of buildings at The Howe around the Methodist Chapel is quite exposed and appears on some local skylines. Care should be taken when considering proposals to change the roofscape or silhouettes of the buildings.

Landscape Proposal 13:

The buildings at Glen Chass are pleasantly and haphazardly scattered around the winding road down to Fistard. The spaces between the buildings make a significant contribution to the character of the group; any proposals to extend properties should be of subordinate scale to the parent building so as to protect these spaces.

Landscape Proposal 14:

The character of the group at Ballakilpheric/Cronk e Dhooney arises principally from the largely informal setting around the lanes which serve the dwellings, the farms and the Chapel. Changes to the spaces between the buildings should be of informal character, avoiding extensive paving, kerbing or inappropriate fencing.