24 September 2008 · Delegated - Director of Planning and Building Control (M. I. McCauley)
Cable And Wireless, Site 082 Tower Farm, Mountain Road, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 2jl
The proposal involves erecting a 14.5m high imitation cypress tree mast with antennas, a 2.6m x 2.6m x 2.4m green-coated equipment cabin, meter cabinet, gabion wall, stock-proof fencing and landscaping within a fenced compound on unzoned agricultural land in an Area of High Landscape Value near the registered Albert To…
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The site is in an unzoned Area of High Landscape Value where landscape protection is primary, but the imitation tree mast is the least intrusive design, set distant from highway amid trees, making it …
General Policy 3
Permits location-dependent development for necessary services outside zoned areas if no reasonable alternative. Officer applied exception (e) as essential TV relay with no alternatives, despite unzoned rural site.
Environment Policy 1
Protects countryside unless overriding national need outweighs protection and no alternative. Digital switchover need (Q2 2009 coverage) deemed overriding; mast design ensures no adverse countryside effect.
Environment Policy 2
Prioritises landscape character in AHLV unless no harm or essential. Officer found no harm from camouflaged siting/height amid trees; drew on Ballnalargy appeal requiring no harm first.
Infrastructure Policy 3
Balances comms need against environment via anti-intrusive masts in sensitive areas, mast-sharing. Imitation tree, green coating, landscaping strike balance; strategic DSO need justifies.
Time limit
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Approved plans
This permission relates to the installation of a 14.5m high imitation tree mast with associated equipment cabinets and compound area as shown in drawing numbers 20523_00_004_04, 20523_50_101_M05_05, 20523_50_103_M05_05, 20523_50_102_M05_05, 20523_50_100_M03_03, 20523_50_150_M03_03, 20523_50_160_M03_03 date stamped 23rd June 2008, Report on Coverage Analysis for Broadcast Television at Alternative Site Locations prepared by National Grid Wireless, Written Statement in support of Application prepared by National Grid Wireless dated May 2008, Declaration of conformity with ICNIRP Public Exposure Guidelines dated 11th September 2008.
Compound drawings
Prior to the commencement of works, elevational/cross section drawings of the compound area shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority and thereafter the works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.
Colour coating
Within one month of the installation of the mast, antennas, transmission dishes and equipment cabinets hereby approved, they shall be colour coated green and in a matt finish. Any replacement or modification shall be colour coated to match within one month of the works being carried out.
Fencing details
Prior to the erection of the stock proof fencing, details thereof shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority, and those works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.
Gabion wall stone
Prior to the construction of the Gabion wall, samples of the stone to be used shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority, and those works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.
Landscaping scheme
Prior to the commencement of works, full details of a landscaping scheme shall have been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority, and those works shall be carried out as approved. All planting shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details in the first planting and seeding seasons following the first occupation of the site. Any tree or shrub which within 5 years from the completion of the development dies, is removed or becomes seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with another of similar size and species, unless the planning authority gives written consent to any variation.
Support proposals once equipment cabin visual concerns resolved via conditions; notes commitment to remove Tower apparatus
no objection
no objection
Manx Electricity Authority requests contact due to underground cables/overhead lines nearby; Maughold Parish Commissioners express visual concerns but support the application conditional on equipment cabin details and materials; Ramsey Town Commissioners agree in principle with provision for relocating equipment from Albert Tower.
Key concern: Underground Cables/Overhead Lines present in the area
Manx Electricity Authority
Conditional No ObjectionThere are Underground Cables/Overhead Lines present in the area indicated in you Planning Application.; The Authority wish to express their interest in the following planning applications, and request that a condition of planning be that the applicant must contact the Authority.; All work to be carried out with reference to Health and Safety Executive Guidance Notes HS(G)47 & GS6.
Conditions requested: condition of planning be that the applicant must contact the Authority; Contact our Network Operations Department, Manx Electricity Authority, (Tel. 687687) to discuss working practices around Cables and Overhead Lines; Contact the M.E.A. for Electrical Site Safety 5 documents, (Tel. 687766), before any work is carried out on site; MEA requires 24 hours unrestricted access to the cables in the Public Highway
Maughold Parish Commissioners
Conditional No Objectionthe Commission does have reservations about the installation of such a structure in this location.; The Commission would look more favorably on an application that proposed a mast with capacity to accommodate transmitting equipment that is currently attached to the Albert Tower; Having taken in to account the comments of Ramsey Town Commissioners, it is the view of Maughold Parish Commissioners that the proposals should be supported; once the above concerns with the visual appearance of the equipment cabin have been resolved.
Conditions requested: a condition of any approval must be that any visible aspects of the cabin are completed in traditional materials that are in sympathy with the rural/agricultural surroundings; These matters must be resolved prior to any approval decision being made
Ramsey Town Commissioners
Conditional No ObjectionRamsey Town Commission is in agreement, in principle, to the erection of an aerial transmitter mast in the vicinity of the Albert Tower, subject to provision being made to allow additional aerials to be attached to the structure; they do not feel that a proliferation of additional masts in the vicinity of the Tower could be supported.
Conditions requested: provision being made to allow additional aerials to be attached to the structure, including those presently fixed to the Albert Tower; the now proposed additional mast should be capable at least of accepting any transmitting equipment currently attached to Albert Tower
