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ISLEOFMANEXAMINER

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 www.iomtoday.co.im

newsdesk@iomtoday.co.im

Someof the slewof recent registrations/proposalsbyDEFA included 12 telephonekiosks, 13warmemorials and6 lighthouses – a triumph(?) of quantityoverquality/need?

Manyuseful lives - best knownasColbyChapel, thiswas: apub, then threehouses, thenahall, latterlyaChapel, and nowahouseagain (not Registered)

ConservationArea. But the backdrop of DouglasHead - which ismuch closer - has not such a designation. It is essential that it is pro- tected fromunsympathetic changes. BROWNFIELD SITES It is essential that the development of brownfield sites takes preference over further encroachment into the countryside. Within towns, however, a current problemiswith the redevelopment of the sites of redundant and run-down buildingswhere the pro- poseddevelopment is two or more stories higher than the original, thus destroying the previous balance. It is understandable that developersmaywish to in- crease the availablefloor space by doing it but fre- quently in a townscape it can be highly undesirable.

person concerned is not someone guaranteed tohave any technical knowledge of the subject. CONSERVATION AREA STATUS ConservationAreas seek to protect not just individual buildings butmore impor- tantly the balance between buildings and open space in a traditional/historic area. Currently there is a government consultation (finishing Septemner 17) on whether some of Douglas Head shouldbe designated a ConservationArea. DouglasHarbour is iden- tified in strategic policy as a strategic entry point into the island i.e. onewhose backgroundfirst-time visi- torswill get afirst andpos- sibly everlasting impression of howthe islandperceives itself. Notwithstanding the cur- rent Promenadeworks, the Promenade is throughout a

gestions of largely pre-1850 buildings byfive. Suggestions for registra- tion and/or proposals to stop a building being demolished have to go throughmany stages. Whilst a building canbe suggested for registrationby either amember of the pub- lic or aDEFAofficer, there- after all decisions are in the hands of DEFA. Fromthe drafting of the criteria for selectionof buildings for registration, proposing a building for registration, registering a building/structure for ar- chitectural and / or historic interest, deciding on any application to de-register a building, deciding on appeal to deregister a building, the final decision at every single stage is takenbyDEFAMin- ister. Something that cannot be seen to be a democratic process evenmore so as the

MarineBiological Station – not registered, neglectedandnowthreatenedwith inappropriateandover-tall redevelopment materials fromor about the site is just ignored. This despite the fact that bothScottish andEnglish governments have long since ternational property compa- nies, is pressing for changes to aNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to align heritage protectionwith en- vironmental sustainability. Theywant to see a new NPPF clearly connect cli- well - we have to apply intel- ligent appropriate solutions tomake historic buildings energy efficient. That also illustrates the importance of investing in skills across the entire sup- ply chain. The pointwasmade that

produceddocumentation proving the value of retain- ing andmodifying heritage buildings inbeing farmore carbon friendly that replac- ing them. To quote froma pro- fessionalmagazine, ‘The Planner’, only recentlyThe GrosvenorGroup, one of the largest privately owned in-

mate change policy andher- itage protection, and explicit encouragement inpolicy for carbon reductionmeasures for all heritage assets. Heritage assets are pre- cious. The challenge is not just to do theworkbut do it

there aremore than 100,000 businesses licensed to install gas boilers across England but only 1,200qualified to in- stall heat pumps. In the islandwe desper- ately need to promote the building craftskillswhich will enable us to protect and promote our heritage assets as economic assets. REGISTRATION More than 100 reports were undertakenby consult- ants paidby formerDOLGE on individual buildings sug- gested for Registration20 years ago. Fewhave seen the light of day. The recent spate of regis- trations,many of them20th century structures, has only reduced the original 1984 list of over 200 outstanding sug-

BallaughtonManor. In2013 theGovernment’sownreport said ‘This is a trulyexceptional propertyworthyof its inclusiononto theprotected buildings register’ but itwas lost becauseDEFAnevergot around to completingregistration

Newlife – the formerPrimitiveMethodist Chapel inMichael Street, Peel