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2 x 1.2 Metre antenna
FOR
Sure (IOM) Ltd
AT
Sure Site 53 (IOM_17 6&7) TT Grandstand Glencrutchery Road
Dougals
Isle of Man Planning Application Supporting Statement DATE: October 2018
PREPARED BY:
Steven L Allan Sure IOM Ltd Sure IOM REF: IOM_53 TT Grandstand
In 2006/7 Sure Isle of Man Limited (Sure) was awarded an Isle of Man (IOM) Mobile Operators Licence, issued by the island's Communications Commission, to provide a mobile phone network and services to the island's inhabitants and visitors. This service competes with the incumbent operator (Manx Telecom) and allows greater choice and competition for consumers and businesses.
The mobile phone network consists of a number of sites that house various pieces of equipment to provide coverage in the vicinity, such as panel antennae, and also transmission dishes that link sites together. Combined with other sites they are designed to provide an extensive, continuous network.
Sure will endeavour, whenever possible, to install its equipment on existing infrastructure or radio transmitters. The aim is always to minimise the visual impact of providing mobile phone network infrastructure.
Where this is not possible, and it is necessary to introduce additional telecommunications infrastructure, this supporting statement will justify why the infrastructure is required and demonstrate that the best possible design available for the site has been identified, keeping visual impact and amenity a priority at all times.
It will also help to explain the decisions which led to the specific location being chosen and will outline which alternatives were considered and discounted.
A variety of supporting information may be included with each application but ultimately Sure's aim is to minimise the number of new structures and reduce the visual impact of the network, whilst providing sufficient signal strength to provide coverage for customers to take advantage of a range of Sure's services.
For the avoidance of doubt: a cell site, as referred to in this document, is a combination of equipment including cabinets, antennae and structures, required to facilitate the operation of a mobile phone cell.
The proposed development will consist of 2 antenna $1.4 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{H} \times 0.22 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{D} \times 0.3 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~W}$ mounted directly on to the wall, all ancillary equipment will be installed inside the grandstand building.
The proposed development site to the rear of the IOM TT Grandstand on Glencrutchery Road. This proposal is indented purely to improve the mobile connectivity, experienced by visitors to Grandstand at heave usage periods. In the new mobile environment of 4 and 5 G proximity of the user to the Mast is critical. A user 1 Km from the mast will use 10 x the resource of a user 100 m from the mast, for the same level of service. At 5 Km from the Mast a user will use 100 x the resource for $1 / 10$ of the service compared to a user 100 m form the mast. So adjacency to the transmitting mast is vital if it is to support high numbers of users.
The proposed site is designed to improved capacity at the TT Grandstand therefore proximity to the Grandstand is essential. The area round the Grandstand has good existing levels of coverage, however during periods of heavy usage (TT and Manx Grand Prix) capacity in the area is no longer sufficient. As this site is purely to improve capacity at the Grandstand no other locations where considered.
We have met with planning officers Jason Singleton to discuss this proposal.
Planning application 00/00333/B Alterations to telecommunications mast and location of equipment cabin and fencing TT Grandstand Glencrutchery road Douglas IM2 6DU. Is the only telecommunications application listed there are a number of planning applications have been submitted to develop the Grandstand buildings but none other for the improvement of telecommunications infrastructure.
Although radio coverage at Grandstand is good, reliable data usage is sporadic at times of high visitor numbers. With the development of mobile communications moving to a pure IP basis, reliable data coverage will be essential in the very near future. In addition, as the Grand stand has a high density of customers using their mobile devices, at TT and the Festival of Motorcycling, the network load in this area is particularly high at these times. This impacts all users who currently receive coverage of the Masts surrounding the Grandstand. Having a far wider impact than just visitors.
This proposed development will also have a significant positive impact on the users in its surrounding area, as it will reduce the load on local Masts at times of heavy usage.
The Isle of Man Government recently launched its Digital Inclusion Strategy 2016-2021.It recognises the importance of online access and brings together partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors to help people get online. It's part of the Government's Digital Strategy, which aims to bring more services online and help more people to access them.
The strategy notes the benefits of helping more people to get online including access to training and jobs, social and leisure activities and how it can help to address wider social issues and support economic growth.
Good connectivity is vital to support this strategy and ensuring that areas of the island, such as the Grandstand, have high capacity reliable mobile services to access the latest in technology is therefore key. High availability at this site is also very important for the visitor experience at the TT and Festival of Motorcycling.
Coverage maps have not been provided in this instance as this site will not improve the coverage in the area. This proposed development is purely to improve capacity in the area immediately adjacent to the TT Grandstand.
No other sites where considered for this application, as the proposed development is purely to improve the visitor experience at the TT Grandstand. Any location that moved the proposed installation away from the immediate area would significantly reduce its ability to do so.
The proposed site does not have a specific or restrictive designation under the 1982 Development Plan, nor does it fall within an area of restricted building height due to Air Safety.
This site has been designed in accordance with the current mainland UK Cellular operator's guidance for both Occupational and Public ICNIRP compliance. Our design team is satisfied that this site design complies with the above guidelines and therefore a signed ICNIRP certificate is enclosed with this application.
1) Isle of Man Government Statutory Boards, Offices \& Agencies Plans 2006-2009. Volume 3.
Page 25 under Communications Commission Aims \& Objectives Section: Objective: Social inclusion - to enhance access to services for the whole population: "We will enforce universal service obligations by telecoms operators with significant market power. They must provide telephone services throughout the Island," 2) Isle of Man Government Statutory Boards< Offices \& Agencies Plans 2005-2008. Volume 3 Page 20, under Communications Commission Aims \& Objectives Section. Objective; The built environment - to reduce the visual impact of telecommunications and radio infrastructure on the island's landscape.
"We will encourage increased mast sharing by broadcasters, under the Radio Masts Regulation Act Limitations". 3) The Town and Country Planning Act 1999.
Page 101: "A balance must be struck between the need for new, evolving communications systems to satisfy residential and business demand and the impact that the necessary infrastructure will have upon the environment. Measures which may help to achieve a satisfactory balance will include a presumption against visually intrusive masts in sensitive landscapes, the encouragement of mast sharing by different operators, and the removal of redundant infrastructure. Exceptions to this policy would need to demonstrate a strategic national need, which cannot be otherwise secured by mast sharing or alternative locations." 4) Isle of Man Government Digital Strategy and Digital Inclusion Strategy https://issuu.com/isleofmangovernment/docs/digital_strategy_v0.1?e=17903168/13316277 https://www.gov.im/media/1352205/digital-inclusion-strategy-july-2016.pdf 1.3 "Most people take digital technology and the internet for granted. It is something that has become so deeply embedded in daily life that it is hard to function when access to it is lost." 2.3 "In line with providing more digital services, Government needs to ensure that residents of the Island are equipped with the access, skills, motivation and trust to go online, to help those who want to be digitally capable to make the most of the internet."
Sure IOM Ltd believes the proposed installation complies with the island's policies and strategies above.
To summarise, we consider that this application suggests the optimum location and design for a proposed site. At times of high visitor numbers in this area, TT and IOM Festival of Motorcycling, the Mobile phone network in this area quickly becomes congested. This proposal is indented purely to address this issue and give visitors the best possible experience of the Isle of Man.
The location and appearance have been carefully considered to best utilise the existing infrastructure to minimise visual impact. The proximity to the existing structures is intentional as the site is purely designed to improve capacity in the area at times of heavy usage.
Therefore, the design proposed represents both the optimum planning, environmental and technical solutions in this instance. As such, we believe the development as proposed is in accordance with planning guidance as defined above.
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