**Document:** Tower Farm Mast Upgrade Statement **Application:** 19/00300/B — Erection of tree mast to replace existing tree mast **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2019-05-17 **Parish:** Lezayre **Document Type:** report / planning_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/29291-lezayre-sure-mobile-site-iom-telecoms-mast-replacement/documents/1330070 --- # Tower Farm Mast Upgrade Statement ## Planning Application Support Statement Tower farm mast upgrade 19 / 00300 18-meter Tree mast Tower Farm FOR Sure (IOM) Ltd AT Sure Site 47 Tower Farm Ramsey Isle of Man Planning Application Supporting Statement DATE: 25 February 2019 PREPARED BY: Steven L Allan Sure IOM Ltd Sure IOM REF: IOM_47 Tower Farm ## The proposal ![photograph from page 3](https://images.planningportal.im/2019/03/216796.jpg) The proposed development will consist of an 18 -meter tree mast monopole, 8 -meters to the East of the existing Sure Tree mast. The proposed new mast will support up to 6 GSM/3G/LTE antenna plus $3 \times 5 \mathrm{G}$ antenna, 3 Line of site dishes and mast mounted Remote radio units (needed to support high orders of MIMO*). All mast mounted equipment will be painted forest green to match the tree mast colour. *MIMO, Multiple In Multiple Out, this is a protocol required for higher speeds and high capacity 4G/LTE Once the new proposed mast is operational, the existing Sure tree mast will be decommissioned and removed with the site being reinstated to its original condition. Sure, will commit to this re-instatement work being completed with in 8 weeks of the proposed mast becoming sufficiently operational to duplicate the function of the existing mast. ### The application site The proposed development site is approximately 110 meters west of Albert tower. It is an existing Sure mobile phone Cell site. This application proposes a new tree mast between the two existing Tree masts on the site. As this site is defined by the 1982 Development plan as an area of High Scenic Significance, Sure have proposed a Cyprus fire tree mast, these masts are extremely expensive costing $5 \times$ the cost of a standard monopole. In this circumstance Sure feel the investment of $£ 80,000$ pounds on the mast alone to be appropriate. Site as it exists today, viewed from Shoprite carpark Site after proposed development As can be seen from the above the proposed change to a lager mast, when viewed from central Ramsey, will have very little impact on the visual amenaty. In addtion, by moving the mast 8 meters to the east it will appear more naturly on the sky line, as apposed to the current more isloalted mast. ![A very dark, grainy photograph showing a silhouette of a landscape with vertical structures, likely masts, rising above vegetation.](https://images.planningportal.im/2019/03/216798.jpg) ![A dark, silhouetted photograph showing a landscape with trees and vertical structures, likely masts, against a grey sky, with the text 'site after proposed development' visible at the top.](https://images.planningportal.im/2019/03/216799.jpg) ## Sure ### Site selection process and discounted options The proposed Development is an upgrade of our existing Mast, as the existing one can no longer support the demands of the local community in Ramsey. This site occupies a unique topographical position which would require multiple smaller urban sites to replicate its coverage. Additional sites are being developed in Ramsey area (Ramsey Cottage Hospital) 18/00786/B, but without this proposed development it will not be possible to fully support our customers in Ramsey. The failure to develop this mast will **serve** in impact the ability of Sure to support 5G development in the north. ### Pre-application consultation We have met with planning officers Nicholas Salt to discuss this proposal. ### Planning History A number of planning applications have been submitted to: - 06/02164/B original Sure planning application for Existing Mast and site - 08/01213/B, 09/01808/B, 15/00397/B these appear to relate to the Arqiva site. - 99/02346/A Approval in principle for Farm house alternations ## Sure. ### Need for the development The town of Ramsey currently suffers from high rates of radio congestion, the highest on the Sure network. Significant development of the Mobile phone network in the Ramsey area, is required. Sure is currently in the process of building a new site at Ramsey Cottage Hospital to help alleviate this. Unfoundedly this alone will not be enough; a significant upgrade of our existing Tower farm site will also be required. The current site is unable to be upgraded to provide more capacity without adding more antenna to the mast. Unfortunately, the current mast is at its load capacity and unable to accept more antenna. In addition, the existing tree mast is showing signs of its 12 years of service on an extremely exposed site and in need of significant refurbishment. The proposed new mast will have significant advantages over the current mast. It is taller than the existing mast which will provide improved lines of sight in to southern Ramsey, this alone will be a significant improvement and will lead to better user experience in this area. The proposed mast has the structural strength to support twice the number of antennae, over the existing mast, allowing more antenna to be added, therefor increasing the capacity of the site (combined with the addition of more electronics in the existing equipment cabin). The proposed mast will also have the capacity to support 5G development. Conversely, failure to develop this mast would require significant development of the other new sites in Ramsey and have a significant negative impact on Sure's ability to provide 5G, at a future date, in Ramsey. 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 a Ramsey, have high capacity reliable mobile services to access the latest in technology is therefore key. Coverage maps have not been included in this application as the proposed new mast will not improve coverage, it is intended to improve capacity and provide the infrastructure to enable 5 G in the near future. ## Alternative sites considered Further development of other Sure sites in Ramsey was considered, Film Studios on the Jurby Rd, Ramsey and Boat yard, Shipyard road, Ramsey. These sites would require a height increase of a minimum of 10 meters, from the existing 15 meters and be substantially developed to support the increase loading requirements. It was felt that this level of development would be unacceptable and that therefore the proposed solution outlined in this application was the best option. ### Accordance with Island Plan (2002) policy The proposed site does fall within an "Area of high landscape or coastal value and scenic significance" under the 1982 Development Plan; it does not fit fall within an area of restricted building height due to Air Safety. ### Health & 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. ### Telecoms Policies 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. ## Summary To summarise, we consider that this application suggests the optimum location and design for a proposed site. The current mobile network congestion in Ramsey, combined with the number of customer complaints received, demonstrate that there is a definite need for a major network upgrade in this area to alleviate the poor mobile network performance experienced in Ramsey. The location and appearance have been carefully considered to best utilise the existing infrastructure to minimise visual impact. The use of a tree mast will help minimise the impact on the visual amenity of the area. It is expected to improve the skyline as apposed to the existing Mast. 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. --- *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/29291-lezayre-sure-mobile-site-iom-telecoms-mast-replacement/documents/1330070*