A temporary building which was erected in Noble’s Park for this year’s TT races could be there in breach of planning regulations.

The hospitality building by the TT grandstand has been there each TT since the centenary in 2007 and is used to host VIP events.

This year it has been left for use during the 90th anniversary Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT races which take place during the last two weeks in August.

But a spokesman for the government’s planning department said:

‘In theory it does need planning permission. The attitude would be taken that it was a two-week temporary structure. Because it remains longer, the enforcement ball would start rolling. If someone complained we would investigate it but it’s not been brought to our attention.

‘It would probably be a formality and by the time a retrospective application was processed the time could well have passed.’

She added there was planning permission in place for the 240-bed Snoozebox accommodation which was placed in the park last year and this year.

Noble’s Park grandstand and paddock area are leased by Douglas Council to the Department of Economic Development to use during the TT races.

Douglas Council’s assistant chief executive Susan Harrison said she had expected the building to be taken down.

‘It’s something that needs sorting out and we are looking into it,’ she said.

‘It’s still there at the moment and if the DED want to keep it up the onus is on them to get planning permission, otherwise the operators will have to dismantle it.

‘We will certainly work with the DED and see what can be done.’

Government TT and motorsports development manager Paul Phillips said the advice they had been given every year was that the building did not require planning permission.

‘If I’m wrong on this, you would think they would have been on our case before.

‘We’ve been doing it since 2007,’ he said.

‘We did budget to take it down but it’s more economic to leave it in position rather than take it down and put it up again.

‘We spoke to planning and as far as I’m aware it’s all above board. If there’s something wrong it’s news to me.’



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