Planners having given their backing to a care home on an Onchan coastal road.

The application (20/00337/REM) by Howstrake Developments Limited, follows approval being granted in principle in 2018 (17/00684/A).

A reserved matters application, which following the principle application, amounts to full approval, is a method used by applications and planners to resolve any issues with internal layout, design, external appearance, siting, means of access and landscaping.

coastal

The land, which currently contains no built development (albeit earthworks and road have been undertaken/completed in relation to a previous approved applications), consists of partially open coastal heath land that slopes downwards from north to south towards the sea and parts of the site which have been partially excavated.

In his report to the planning committee, planner Chris Balmer recommended approval for the building, which is to be built at the western end of the built-up area of King Edward Road, Onchan, providing a number of conditions are met.

These conditions included the work beginning in under four years, visibility splays as detailed in the application are adhered to and the development shall be carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations and requirements of the ’common lizard mitigation report dated February 2020’.

A number of objectors to the application raised concerns with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, including Onchan District Commissioners which recommended that planners refuse permission.

However, the most serious long-term impact was raised by the Department of Health and Social Care’s director of infrastructure who said: ’The concern we wish to both highlight and raise is on the basis that this proposed new build will significantly increase the elderly population in that area and above the threshold which the current DHSC based infrastructure for that area is capable of supporting.

’I am referring in particular to the provision of community services, that is district nurses and health visitors, GP and social care services.’

He added that despite this, the department ’in no way objects to the planned development, being that the additional beds will be required for the future needs of the island’.