Officer Planning Report Recommendation

Application No.: 09/01808/B Applicant: Arqiva Services Ltd Proposal: Installation of a 6.5 m pole with two antennas Site Address: Land At Tower Farm, Mountain Road, Ramsey, Isle Of Man ### Considerations Case Officer: Mr Ian Brooks Photo Taken: - Site Visit: - Expected Decision Level: - Senior Planning Officer ### Written Representations - Licensing & Compliance Officer: Salisbury House Victoria - Street Douglas - Interest expressed ### Consultations Consultee: Highways Division Notes: Consultee: - Maughold Commissioners Notes: - Comment Consultee: Mr P S Harrison Notes: - No objection. Consultee: Clerk To The Commissioners Notes: - No objections. Consultee: - Manx Electricity Authority Notes:** - See note 1

Officer's Report

Planning Policies

Within the adopted Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007, the following policies are considered to be relevant in the determination of this application: General Policy 3, Environment Policies 1 and 2, and Infrastructure Policy 3.

Assessment

The proposal is to erect a pole with two receiving antennas to the existing equipment cabinet, which serves a tree mast. The applicants have stated the existing low powered Relay station needs to be altered to accommodate the additional apparatus required as part of the Digital Switchover Project. In this case the proposed works are minor but are need as the existing tree mast steel branches are causing interference to the TV signal for Ramsey. Without this antenna the TV reception over Ramsey would be seriously compromised. I consider there is a need for the antenna to resolve the reception problem in the area.

In terms of the visual amenities of the locality, the site is very isolated and would not be readily visible from a wider area. The antenna will be visible from a public footpath which runs very close to the application site; however, taking this in the wider context, there are two existing tree masts in close proximity to each other and visible from the public footpath. I feel this proposal does not comprise character of the area due to the existing masts in the area and the need of the antennas to improve the TV reception for Ramsey. I therefore recommend that the planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

Party Status

The Department of Transport and the local authority are, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (c) and (d), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status.

The Manx Electricity Authority raises issues which are not material planning considerations and as such should not be afforded party status in this instance.

The Licensing _ Compliance Office within the Communication Commmunication has expressed an interest in the application but has not made any comment on the proposal, as such the Communication Commission should not be afforded party status in this instance.

Recommendation

Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 15.02.2010

Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal

C : Conditions for approval <br> N : Notes attached to conditions <br> R : Reasons for refusal <br> 0 : Notes attached to refusals

C 1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.

C 2. This permission relates to the installation of a 6.5 m pole with two antennas as shown in drawing numbers P20523_50_100_M09_09, P20523_00_004_05, P20523_50_104_M09_09 and P20523_50_150_M09_09 date stamped 4th November 2009, Letter from Arqiva dated 30/10/2009.

C 3. 21 In the event of the 6.5 m pole with two antennas erected under this approval becomes redundant it must be taken down along with all ancillary infrastructure and be removed from the site within 3 months of the cessation of use.

I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 09/09 Delegation of functions, 10/09 Delegation of Functions (Development Procedure), GC No 11/09 (Advertisements) and GC No 12/09 (Registered Buildings) all to the Senior Planning Officer

Decision Made : Permitted Date : Signed : Senior Planning Officer