Plans to continue using temporary car park refused

A bid to continue using an area in the centre of the Manx capital as a temporary car park has been rejected.

The site on St George's Street in Douglas has been home to 22 parking spaces since 1998, and the application was for permission to continue for another three years.

But, the planning officer who recommended it be refused said approval would reduce the likelihood of a prominent brownfield site being brought forward development.

He also argued the site was in a "poor state of repair", with the majority of the area fenced off and only four or five spaces were in use.

It would have a "detrimental impact on character of the area", the planning officer added.

The application was made by Thyme Ltd, which first applied to use the site for parking in 2015 and currently rents it out to Microgaming Ltd.

The applicant said following approval of new offices for the gaming company on Circular Road, 43 car parking spaces were to be provided on nearby and a further 22 elsewhere, which at the time was indicated to be on the St George's Street site.

Committee member Sam Skelton said while it was employee parking, it was an "unkept site, so close to a conservation area".

"We have to start making statements that sites like this are prime for development, and the only way to do that was to say no when it is appropriate," he added.

While fellow committee member Matthew Warren said it was "ridiculous" that it had been a temporary car park since 1998 and if it was going to continue the owners should "make it a proper car park, rather than scrubland".

Committee chairman Rob Callister MHK said although parking spaces were "vital to businesses", due to the condition of the site it was "untenable" for him to support the application.

The application was unanimously rejected by the committee.

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