Response 845043321

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Introduction

May we publish your response?

Please select one item
(Required)
Radio button: Unticked Yes, you can publish my response in full
Radio button: Ticked Yes, you may publish my response anonymously
Radio button: Unticked No, please do not publish my response

Development plan process

1. Do you agree with Option A or Option B?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Option A - current approach
Radio button: Unticked Option B - alternative approach
Radio button: Unticked Neither option

2. What are other potential changes that could improve the current Area Plan system?

Please respond
tougher penalities, actions etc for a retrospective planning application

Public engagement in planning policy development

3. Do you think having a non-statutory community plan is a good idea?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No

4. Would you support the implementation of a pilot non-statutory community plan?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
If so, how should Local Authorities and other local groups be involved?
overall statutory plan, but then broken down into smaller areas from it.

5. Is there anything else you would like to tell us regarding public engagement in Planning Policy Development?

Please give us your views
no

Planning application process

6. Do you think it would be beneficial to amend the Town and Country Planning Act to include a new application type that deals with amendments to previously approved applications?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
prevents abuse of the system.
someone puts in a planning application, which is objected to and the process is not completed.
the original application is allowed to lapse
in the mean time a second application is submitted, which as it is assumed to be the first application, no objections are made.

a part of the planning process should include the applicant directly contacting anyone affected. rather than rely on the yellow notice being fairly and properly displayed.

7. Do you have any other comments regarding the speed at which planning applications are decided?

Please give us your views
no

8. Should applicants be expected to pay for pre-application advice for more complex proposals?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please give us your views
it could prevent more costly errors etc from happening later in the process

9. What types of development should be able to occur without the need for a planning application to be submitted?

Please give us your views
a like for like replacement, fence, wall, windows etc
something that does not change the foot print of an existing building.
example.
I replaced the rotted trellis work on my porch with upvc double glazing and a new door.

10. The ever-increasing pace of mobile phone and data usage means that 5G or other telecommunication technology will be required quickly, so do you think planning exemptions for telecoms development should be extended?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No
Please give us your views
no I do not think that it should be extended. though it can be stream lined so that an unsuitable mast/location is not used.

11. Is there anything else you would like to tell us regarding the planning application process?

Please give us your views
no

Planning appeals process

12. Should third party appeal rights be retained or removed?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Retain – keep third party appeal rights
Radio button: Unticked Remove – no longer permit third party appeals
Radio button: Unticked Neither – do something else
Please state your reasons.
can prevent an unstuitable or illegal development from happening.

if the applicant is honest and up front in the first place then there are likely to be less disagreements and appeals to deal with.

13. If you think third party appeals should be retained, should the right to appeal be limited to those people who have a genuine and legitimate planning concern that affects them or their property which is close to the proposed development?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes – limit rights to only genuine and direct neighbours
Radio button: Ticked No – do not restrict to specific third party groups
Please state your reasons.
because what happens to someone's business which is affected by another planning application?
what if someone's place of work is affected?
someone can be indirectly affected by planning application

14. What might constitute a legitimate and genuine planning concern and what might not?

State the criteria you think should be used when assessing concerns.
loss of light
loss of amenity
loss of privacy
size of a build
impact of a build
change of use
re zoning of an area

15. Do you think it is appropriate to have a two-tier fee structure?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
some appeals are simple and easy to deal with out the need for a full hearing, because the application is clearly going to be allowed for a variety of reasons. or should not be allowed

16. How can the number of appeals be reduced?

Please state your reasons.
an applicant must go directly to each of the adjacent properties or those affected and provide them with the full details. they can agree to the application or disagree with it. plans amended etc before going through the full planning system.
the yellow notice can be abused.
a property next door maybe a rented one and the landlord not aware of an application.
a second application must be prevented from happening if there are objections to the first one as this is an abuse of the system.
How can appeals be dealt with more quickly?
see previous answers

17. Do you have any other comments regarding the matter of third party involvement?

Please provide comments.
no

Decision-making process

18. Should Government have the ability to create a policy document at the highest level which would carry material weight in decision-making?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
some developments are necessary and should happen, so can therefore be streamlined.

redevelopment of
summerhill site
lord street bus station
sea terminal
castlemona hotel.

these are currently bad sites that need to be redeveloped urgently

19. If so, do you agree that any such change in planning policy should continue to be the subject of public consultation and approval by Tynwald?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
to prevent some weird and random things from happening

20. Do you think that Local Authority representatives should be included in the membership of the Planning Committee?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
they are a part of the local authority that look after and area, they have a vested interest and should be represented

21. Is there anything else you would like to tell us regarding improvements to the decision-making process?

Please provide comments.
no

Design quality

22. Is there anything you would like to tell us regarding how to raise design quality?

Please provide comments and recommendations.
better insulation levels as standard
better electrical systems in houses to recognise the technological world we live in.
data cabling in houses
fibre optics etc to be designed into any new developments with direct connections to each new home etc.

Living and working environments

23. Do you agree that the minimum size standards required in new residential developments should be increased?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
a three bedroom house often has only a box room. barely big enough to get a bed into it.

24. If yes, should there be exceptions to these standards?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons and recommendations.
studio apartments
can be smaller in a mixed size development. but as long as they are not squeezed into an area that really cant be used for anything else.

conversions
these are defined by the existing building, such as a barn, church etc. though a good imagination can work wonders.

conservation areas
they are what they are.

registered buildings
registering a building does not always protect the building and can lead to becoming empty for a long time or repairs not being done.
take a look at the castlemona site and how long that has been empty.

25. Do you think that key sites should be the subject of greater master-planning?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
summerhill site, lord street site
explain to a developer what is most likely to be given permission. height, use, parking etc

26. Is there anything else you would like to tell us regarding building sizes and density?

Please provide comments.
no

Heritage

27. Do you think there should be the introduction of a ranked classification for buildings which recognises their varying importance and potential for change?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
bring in a system that is the same as the UK. a developer will then know what they are getting into and taking on. rather than having to adapt things just for one building in the island. this could reduce any expenses for them and maybe encourage them to take on such a site.

28. Do you think that in the current economic climate the reintroduction of the Historic Buildings Grants should be a government priority?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
helps to keep the buildings in a fit state of repair rather than allowing them to fall into disrepair and out of use.

29. What are your views on the idea of transferring the research and subsequent recommendation of Registered Buildings and Conservation Areas to other bodies (for example MNH)?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
it is probably a good idea as the are Manx National Heritage

30. In recognition of limited resources, do you think that consideration should be given to focusing attention on fewer Conservation Areas to raise their quality and allow them to meet their social and economic potential?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
depends on the reasons for them being a conservation area in the first place, is it still a valid reason. maybe it is a good time to review them all again.

31. Is there anything else you would like to tell us regarding how best to protect and cherish our heritage while at the same time providing a more flexible environment that supports economic development?

Please provide comments.
no

Where new development should go

32. In future plan making should new development continue to reflect a settlement hierarchy and spatial strategy similar to now?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
some areas are more urgently in need of development, but it should also encourage out of town development as well.

33. Do you support the current land for employment approach?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No
To what extent is there benefit in each settlement, despite its size or the available employment land evidence, in having the same share of the overall employment need figure?
the world is changing, working from home, technology etc. the island needs to keep a pace with this as a whole.
a major town shouldn't be developed at the expense of a smaller village.

34. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about how development is prioritised around the Island?

Please provide comments and recommendations.
no

Rural development and protection

35. Do you agree that policies for new or replacement houses in the countryside should be revised to enable more unique, innovative and attractive properties, while retaining existing traditional, smaller-scale properties?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
the countryside is an important area of the island, it should be protected, but also suitable use made of it.

36. Is there anything else you would like to tell us regarding development in the countryside?

Please provide comments and recommendations.
no

Economic development

37. Do you think Government should take on a more proactive role in securing economic development utilising its powers including compulsory purchase where appropriate?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
summerland, lord street, sea terminal need to be developed urgently and or modernised

38. Do you think that compulsory purchase powers should be simplified to enable compulsory purchase and possibly subsequent resale of land back into the market place at current market values?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No
Please state your reasons.
compulsory purchase is for a government strategic scheme not profit making etc.

39. Is there anything else you would like to tell us regarding how planning can further support economic development?

Please provide comments and recommendations.
no

Brownfield sites

40. Do you think that the current rate discounts associated with empty buildings and brownfield sites should be removed or become time bound to encourage development of those assets?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
the sites need to be developed

41. Do you think that cleared sites intended for future developments should not be allowed to be used for interim car parking to prevent income from parking fees reducing the urgency of long term site development?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
yes if a site has been cleared for use/development, then it should be. not left for years with nothing happening

42. Do you think that reducing the length of time that planning approval lasts for on certain sites would encourage approved developments to commence quickly so that their benefits are realised?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No
Please state your reasons.
yes, if planning permission is given then the work should start as soon as is possible

43. Is there anything else you would like to suggest which could help stimulate re-development of brownfield sites?

Please provide comments and recommendations.
no

Infrastructure provision

44. Do you agree that a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be introduced for larger developments?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No

45. If so, do you think that the CIL should be in addition to existing Section 13 monies?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No

46. Do you think that a fixed and proportionate CIL would provide greater certainty and clarity for developers in respect of what would be required of them?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No

47. Do you think that the CIL should be applied to all types and sizes of development in all locations?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No

48. Do you think that exemptions from the CIL should apply to certain areas to incentivise development?

Please select one item
Radio button: Ticked Yes
Radio button: Unticked No

49. What type of projects should the income generated by the CIL fund?

Please provide comments and recommendations.
community projects
charity projects.

example
development of the foresty plantations
hospice

things that improve the lives etc everyone

50. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about how new developments could support the needs of the community?

Please provide comments and recommendations.
no

Retail, leisure and entertainment destinations

51. Should Government increase Permitted Development rights to allow greater flexibility for changes of use within town centres?

Please select one item
Radio button: Unticked Yes
Radio button: Ticked No
Please state your reasons.
how many coffee shops does a town need?
if it is a mixed use or a new type of shop then it can be allowed.

52. What types of use would you like to see in town centres?

Please select all that apply
Checkbox: Unticked Health and beauty
Checkbox: Ticked Leisure
Checkbox: Unticked Office
Checkbox: Ticked Residential
Checkbox: Ticked Retail
Checkbox: Unticked Other
Please provide comments and recommendations.
a standard plan for the main shopping area of douglas. that would allow the pedestrian street to be covered over.
as an old shop falls out of use and needs to be replaced it can have standard fixture points added to allow a canopy to be added at some point.

53. What types of use would you not like to see in town centres?

Please select all that apply
Checkbox: Unticked Health and beauty
Checkbox: Unticked Leisure
Checkbox: Ticked Office
Checkbox: Unticked Residential
Checkbox: Unticked Retail
Checkbox: Unticked Other

54. What else would you like to tell us regarding how to rejuvenate our town centres and make them fit for tomorrow’s needs?

Please provide comments and recommendations.
get the promenade area sorted out.

extended the horse trams to meet up with the electric railway and the steam trains.
pedestrianise the quay in douglas or add the lines in to allow this to happen.

use the sea terminal as a bus station as it has the facilities needed already in place

Final thoughts

55. Is there anything that we’ve missed?

Please tell us your ideas
stop the abuse of the system