Planning Practice Note
Telecommunications Masts and Bases Stations
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Practice Note is to inform the public of planning policy and practice on telecommunications masts and base stations. It does not deal with satellite antennas and other small-scale telecommunications developments which are dealt with in
THE IMPACT OF TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENTS
The visual impacts of fixed link telecommunications have been reducing in recent years, as service providers have placed their cables underground. However, the rapid growth of radio based telecommunications has spawned large numbers of masts, satellite antennas and other equipment which is widely regarded as unsightly.
We have to take into account:
- promoting the use of the new technologies; and
protecting the high quality of the landscape and townscape of the District; and - taking account of the fear of potential health risks.
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT
The Government grants planning permission for telecommunications developments which it considers to be minor, through the General Permitted Development Order:
- in most areas, planning permission is not required for masts which are less than 15 metres high (although approval must be given for their siting and design);
- in designated areas, such as the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which covers 65% of South Shropshire, conservation areas and SSSIs, permission is required for all masts and associated equipment.
SOME TECHNICAL POINTS ABOUT MASTS
The need for masts is affected by:
- the amount of usage they get from their customers;
- their size;
- the terrain in which they are located.
Especially in hilly country, this means that:
- more usage means more masts;
- more operators means more masts (although they are encouraged to share if possible);
- fewer masts means taller masts;
- smaller masts means more masts.
Health risks
There has been some public concern about possible health risks from exposure to microwave radiation of the sort used in cellular telephone networks. Much of this has been centred on the use of the phones themselves but some have questioned the desirability of locating masts close to people's homes.
The Government's view (set out in PPG8 Telecommunications) is that there is no need for LPAs to consider health issues so long as the installations (singly and cumulatively) are certified by the operators as conforming to the ICNIRP guidelines.
Operators are, however, required to consult schools and colleges near their proposals before making an application.
Mast sharing
Government policy encourages operators to share masts whenever possible. But it is sometimes not possible for all the operators who require coverage of an area to share a mast. This is usually because the mast is not big enough to allow them all to share without radio interference between them.
PLANNING POLICY
South Shropshire District Council as LPA closely follows Government policy in its handling of applications for new masts and other telecommunications development. Specifically:
- it supports the introduction of the new technology; but
- it requires the highest possible standards of:
- mast sharing and other co-operation between operators;
- siting and design of masts and other installations;
- it requires evidence that all possible measures to reduce environmental impacts and risks to public health have been pursued;
- it maintains a register of existing sites and installations for operator and public reference;
- it values pre-application discussions and will seek to involve interested parties in any discussions in accordance with Government advice;
- it encourages landowners considering allowing mast developments on their land to adopt the Council's approach to site selection and to appoint an agent to help them deal with the issues involved;
- it requires, as a condition of planning permission, redundant masts to be removed.
Planning and other applications
Applications for planning permission (and for approval of siting and design under the General Permitted Development Order) must provide evidence of:
- the operator's long-term strategy for service development in the District;
- the extent of the service coverage required, including any outside the District;
- an examination of the possibility of this being provided from any existing mast or site, including sites outside the District;
- whether or not any other operators will require similar coverage (this will be checked with the other operators and taken as evidence of their future requirements);
- an assessment of which of the following will provide the least environmental impact:
- a shared mast catering for future needs;
a shared site catering for future needs; - separate sites in the locality.
- a shared mast catering for future needs;
- certification that the power of the transmitter(s) (including any existing ones at the site) is within the ICNIRP standard;
- details of the pre-application discussions with any school or college within 200 metres of the site;
- an assessment of the levels of any noise which may be emitted by the equipment;
- careful site selection taking into account the following requirements:
- the impact of the proposal on its setting must be considered (with reference to the Shropshire County Council's Landscape Character Assessment for the area, when published);
- this assessment must include all the impacts of associated development such as highway accesses, access roads, power lines, equipment cabins and microwave dishes;
- sites must be as far as possible from sensitive property such as dwellings, schools and hospitals;
- where possible, antennas should be mounted on existing, non-sensitive, buildings and structures;
- masts should not break the skyline or be otherwise obtrusive from viewpoints from rights of way and other places to which the public has access, especially in the AONB;
- use must be made of existing landscape features such as land forms, buildings and trees and woodland to reduce the visual impact of the development;
- a full assessment of all the alternative sites that have been considered and the reasons for their rejection.
Publicity for applications
Publicity will be given to all telecommunication developments including details submitted in accordance with the requirements above. Representations should be made in writing in the normal way to the:
Head of Planning,
South Shropshire District Council,
Stone House, Corve Street,
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY81DG.
For further information please contact Planning Reception (01584) 813360.
© Copyright South Shropshire District Council,
Stone House, Corve Street,
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1DG.
Tel: (01584) 813000
Fax: (01584) 813128
e-mail: planning@southshropshire.gov.uk
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: Planning and Building Control. Last Updated: 13/2/2007.
