**Document:** Sure IOM Telecommunications Planning Statement **Application:** 18/00646/TEL — Installation of 12m high free standing lattice mast in grounds **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2018-09-13 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** report / planning_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/28207-braddan-department-of-home-affairs-tromode-telecoms-mast/documents/1327866 --- # Sure IOM Telecommunications Planning Statement ## 18/00646 Telecommunications Permitted Development Application 12m Lattice Mast FOR Sure (IOM) Ltd AT Sure Site IOM_55 Department of Home Affairs Tromode Rd Douglas Isle of Man Telecommunications Permitted Development Application DATE: 6 June 2018 PREPARED BY: Steven Allan Sure IOM Ltd Sure IOM REF: Site IOM 55 Tromode ## Introduction Sure Isle of Man Limited (Sure) was in 2006 awarded an Isle of Man (IOM) Mobile Operators License, issued by the Island's Communications Commission, to provide a mobile phone network and services to the island's inhabitants and visitors. In October 2016 this license was amended to grant Sure permitted development rights as a "code system operator". This service competes with the incumbent operator (Manx Telecom) and allows greater choice and competition for the consumers. This has lead to a significant reduction in the cost of Mobile phone ownership in the Isle of Man and is therefore of substantial benefit to the wider community. The Mobile phone network consists of a number of sites that have a combination of equipment, such as panel antenna, that provide coverage in the vicinity and also transmission dishes that link sites together. Combined with other sites they are designed to provide a wider continuous network: this intern provides coverage throughout the Island. Sure will endeavour, whenever possible, to install their equipment on existing infrastructure or radio transmitters. The aim always is to minimise the visual impact of providing this new mobile phone network. Where this is not possible, and it is necessary to introduce the additional telecommunications infrastructure onto the Island this supporting statement will justify, both why the infrastructure is required and demonstrates that the best possible design available for the site has been identified, keeping visual amenity as a priority at all times. It will also help to explain the decisions which led to the specific location being chosen and what alternatives were discounted. A variety of supporting information may be included with each application but ultimately the Sure 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 the Sure services that will become available. ## 18/00646 Telecommunications Permitted Development Application ### Surg ### Plan of Proposed development See drawing IOM_55/011 Site plan ### Description of the proposal The proposed development will consist of a Single 12-meter triangular, lattice tower. The lattice tower would be supported by $2 x$ Equipment cabinets which house all associated electronic for the site. The equipment cabinets are Gray powder coated steel.. We believe this proposal offers the best possible compromise between visual amenity and the need for development. The position of the proposed site and remote antenna is shown in the enclosed drawings. (please see drawing IOM_55/010 Location plan) ### Statement of Conformity with Public exposure guidelines Please see Declaration of Conformity with ICNIRP included in pack ### Plan of search area See drawing IOM_55/010 Location plan ### Details of proposed Structure The proposed structure is a 12 m high, triangular lattice tower 600 mm per face with integrated ladder on the southern face. The mast will support up to $3 x$ Mobile Phone antenna and $1 \times 300 \mathrm{~mm}$ LOS dish. ### See drawing number GA001 included in pack The proposed Mast is located next to a large steel frame storage shed approximately 6 m in Hight. With the Drill hall cottages 6 m to the south these being 9 m high. In addition, the IOM Water Authority building is also approximately 6 m high, this will very effectively screen the view of the mast form the public highway. ## Choice of Mast Design A lattice tower has been selected for this proposal as it presents the minimum visual intrusion set against its background, as it will be largely see through. The width is a function of structural requirements to support the telecommunications equipment required for the site to meet its functional goals. 12 m high has been selected for this proposal as it represents the minimum mast high that will proved coverage to the area required by IOM Gov. The Hight and width of the mast are a function of its purpose. A lattice tower has been chosen as it is a largely open structure and therefore will have a limited impact on the local visual amenity ### Technical Characteristics of the proposed installation It is proposed that this installation will transmit in the following bands using the listed Modulation techniques. All transmissions will be within bandwidth licenced to Sure by Ofcom and the IOM Government All Proposed sectors will radiate at: | Band | Modulation | | :-- | :-- | | 800 MHz | OFTDMA | | 900 MHz | WCDMA/ TDMA | | 1800 MHz | OFTDMA | | 2100 MHz | OFTDMA/WCDMA | ### Need for the development Sure are now the provider of Mobile phone service to IOM Government including the IOM Water Authority. It has been reported that signal levels in in the Tromode road are not sufficient as to allow uninterrupted Mobile phone use by staff and visitors in the area. We have received a request for GTS that we improve Mobile Phone coverage at Tromode this cannot be achieved with existing infrastructure. The only solution is a new development and we believe this proposal to be the best possible solution. ## Site Selection Process This site has specifically been selected to provide improved coverage to the Water Authority buildings and the surrounding government infrastructure. In support of Sure's role as provider of Mobile telecommunications to IOM Government and its staff. Sure currently have a Mobile site at Vagabonds Rugby Club, which provides a good level of coverage to Tromode industrial estate, it is not however sufficient to penetrate the wooded area along the valley floor. This site has been selected in conjunction with IOM Government property's and GTS as the optimum to provide coverage in to the desired area. This location has been selected in consultation with IOM Government Estates department. The propose mast would be screened by 6 and 9 -meter-high buildings on 3 sides. Significant Trees (over 25 m ) on the south and east side providing a back drop for the mast. ### Discounted Options Due to the topography of the area, a site to provide coverage to the Water Authority buildings would need to be in the valley bottom along the route of Tromode road. This severely limits the number of potential sites. The only alternative identified in searches was a street works solution at or near the junction of Tromode Rd and Ballafletcher Rd. A Street works is necessarily limited both physically and technically so that it may meet the criteria of Street works and it was felt that it would not be appropriate in this instance. In addition, a small Streetworks development would not have sufficient penetration along the heavily wooded valley floor to provide the necessary levels of coverage to the Water Authority building. ### Notification to land owners/tenants This site is being proposed is as a result of a direct request from IOM Government GTS and this proposal has been discussed and reviewed by John Cowell, Andrew Cook and Ian Notman all IOM Government ## Surg. ### Pre-application consultation We have met with Mr Jason Singleton to discuss this proposal. I have followed his guidance in preparing this application. ### Coverage plot for proposed site The below plot demonstrates the expected coverage inside the Water authority building and surrounding areas. These plots indicate the users inside the buildings can expect very good quality Voice and data speeds in the region of 50 Mbps at present voice and data services are interment at best. Indoor coverage levels are estimated to be in the expected range of -70 dBm to -80 dBm which represents very good performance. It is also anticipated residents in the area will benefit to some extent from improved coverage. ![False-color aerial map showing a site location with surrounding residential areas and open land.](https://images.planningportal.im/2018/06/206077.jpg) --- *Data sourced from the Isle of Man public planning register under the [Isle of Man Open Government Licence](https://www.gov.im/about-this-site/open-government-licence/).* *Canonical page: https://planningportal.im/a/28207-braddan-department-of-home-affairs-tromode-telecoms-mast/documents/1327866*