Appeal to keep Ramsey warehouse as registered building submitted

Thu, 07 Nov 2019

An appeal has been lodged against the decision to remove the former Farmers Combine Building in Ramsey from the protected building register.

 

The appeal submission has been made on behalf of Manx National Heritage and is available on the IOM Government website.

 

It’s been referred to the Cabinet Office and a hearing will be conducted and report prepared for consideration by an Independent Planning Inspector.

Director of Manx National Heritage, Edmund Southworth said: 'We have considered this matter very carefully, and our decision to appeal against the ruling has not been taken lightly. We believe the decision to de-register this building may not have followed appropriate procedure and that the condition of the building has become a factor, when clearly the rules do not allow this to be a material consideration.'

The Farmers’ Combine building was initially registered by DEFA in February, but the owner later applied to have it de-registered.

The building owner's decision to de-register was made last month in contradiction, not only of specialist advice and comments received by DEFA, but also the recommendation of the Director of Planning.

Under Registered Buildings regulations, Manx National Heritage is specified as a consultee because of its statutory and legal role in the protection of cultural heritage – in this case buildings.

The same regulations allow for an appeal against de-registration, but only certain parties are deemed to have sufficient interest to do so.

Despite some structural issues, MNH said that the building preserves original historic materials and machinery, as well as the narrow form of such warehouses with its gable facing the quayside.

The appeal process will involve the submission of evidence by interested parties to an independent planning inspector, whose recommendation will then be considered by the minister or his representative. 

 

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