13 April 2016 · Delegated - Senior Planning Officer (Sarah Corlett)
Area Of Land Adjacent To, Upper Howe Farm, Old Castletown Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM4 1ab
SES Satellite Leasing Ltd sought permission to install four white satellite antenna dishes, each up to 9.6m high on 50sqm concrete pads, two equipment buildings finished in matching brick, a backup generator, meter cabinet, 2m-high green welded mesh security fencing with barbed wire, landscaping, retaining walls, and a…
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The site is explicitly zoned as 'Transmitting Station Carnane' on the Braddan Parish District Local Plan (South) 3 map and 'Radio Transmitting Station' on the 1982 Development Plan, making it appropri…
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect landscape character. Officer assessed that antennas would not unduly affect countryside character due to distant views, containment within existing transmitting site against dominant towers, and minimal horizon break, complying fully.
Environment Policy 4
Protects Wildlife Sites with mitigation or no negative impacts. MWT report confirmed no serious ecological impact on heathland; condition for acid rock track provides mitigation for habitat, satisfying policy.
Environment Policy 5
Protects biodiversity in designated sites. Proposal demonstrated no negative impacts per commissioned MWT report, with access track enhancing open habitat; condition ensures acidic materials suit heathland.
Environment Policy 2
Protects visual amenity and landscape. Assessed as compliant due to low visibility from public vantage points, antennas reading against existing towers rather than skyline, and no harmful spread of development.
Infrastructure Policy 3
Supports infrastructure like telecommunications. Helpful context for zoning but not primary test; site zoning overrides general countryside protections.
Time limit
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice. Reason: To comply with article 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No2) Order 2013 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.
Fencing colour
For the avoidance of doubt, the two metre-high fencing shown on approved Plan ES1-013, date-stamped as having been received 4th March 2016, shall be dark green in colour unless otherwise agreed in advance with the Department. Reason: In the interest of reducing the visual impact of the fencing in view of its prominent location on this hillside.
Access track materials
The hardstanding to be used for the access track shall be formed of local acid rock unless otherwise agreed in advance with the Department. Reason: In the interest of protecting the heathland habitat in the area, which requires an acidic basis.
Decommissioning
If any of the antennae are no longer required or used for the purpose stated in the application, they must be removed from site and the ground restored to its current condition within six months of the cessation of use. Reason: to protect the countryside from unwarranted development.
No objection; proposed development unlikely to seriously impact the ecological interest of the lowland heath
No objection but noted importance of no interference to Government radio system
No objection
Supports as it enables better service for maritime customers, benefitting Isle of Man economy
Supports for attracting channel owners and growing creative industry sector
Supports as long-term investment aligning with Vision 2020 and e-business growth
Supports for enabling uplink content, reducing costs, attracting operators, and long-term investment
Supports as SES is a global leader enhancing business activity and 2020 Strategy
Braddan Parish Commissioners and DOI Highways Division raised no objections to the application. DEFA Biodiversity recommended liaison with Manx Wildlife Trust due to the site being a Wildlife Site, while Johnston Press expressed interest in decision notices but provided no planning comments.
Key concern: site is a Wildlife Site
Braddan Parish Commissioners
No ObjectionIt was unanimously resolved that the Commissioners had no objections to the following Planning Applications:; - PA16/00266/B – SES Satellite Leasing Ltd – Erection of four satellite ground antennas with related buildings and security fencing – Carnane Radio Site, Old Castletown Road, Braddan
Johnston Press plc
No CommentPlease can you include us as having expressed an interest so we receive decision notices for the following plans: 16/00266/B Erection of four satellite ground antennas with related buildings and security fencing Carnane Radio Site Adjacent To Upper Howe Farm Old Castletown Road Douglas
DEFA Senior Biodiversity Officer
Conditional No ObjectionRe. PA 16/00266/B Carnane radio site, Douglas I note that this is a Wildlife Site and therefore recommend liaison with the Manx Wildlife Trust.
Conditions requested: recommend liaison with the Manx Wildlife Trust
Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Division
No ObjectionHighway Services Comment: Do not oppose; DNO on 9.3.16; DNO: Do not oppose
