**Document:** Officer Planning Report 08/00770/B
**Application:** 08/00770/B — Installation of equipment cabinets
**Decision:** Permitted
**Decision Date:** 2009-01-28
**Parish:** Lonan
**Document Type:** report / officer_report
**Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/85354-lonan-transmitter-site-chibbyr-pheric-road-equipment-cabinets/documents/1525377

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# Officer Planning Report 08/00770/B

## Planning Report And Recommendations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Considerations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Written Representations [Table omitted in markdown export] ### Consultations [Table omitted in markdown export]

### Officer's Report

#### Site

The application site is a telecommunication mast site at Ballacollister Farm. The site comprises of an existing 40m lattice mast which accommodates broadcast equipment plus emergency services equipment and mobile phone apparatus on behalf of Manx Telecom. At ground level there a number of equipment cabins. The site is zoned as an Area for Government or Service Department Purposes and the site is identified as mast on the 2005 Area Plan.

#### Proposal

The application is seeking approval for the two cabinets at the base of the existing radio mast. The cabinets will be 800mm x 1.4m. The heights of the cabinets are unknown. The cabinets are to be colour coated green.

#### Development Plan 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.

General Policy 3 states that "Development will not be permitted outside of those areas which are zoned for development on the appropriate Area Plan with the exception of:
- (a) Essential housing for agricultural workers who have to live close to their place of work;
- (b) Conversion of redundant rural buildings which are of architectural, historic, or social value and interest;
- (c) Previously developed land which contains a significant amount of building; where continued use is redundant; where redevelopment would reduce the impact of the current situation on the landscape or the wider environment; and where the development proposed would result in improvements to the landscape or wider environment;
- (d) The replacement of existing rural dwellings;
- (e) Location-dependant development in connection with the working of mineral or the provision of necessary services;
- (f) Building and engineering operations which are essential for the conduct of agriculture or forestry;
- (g) Development recognised to be of overriding national need in land use planning terms and for which there is more reasonable and acceptable alternative; and
- (h) Buildings or works required for interpretation of the countryside, its wildlife or heritage."

Environment Policy 1 states that "The countryside and its ecology will be protected for its own sake. For the purposes of this policy, the countryside comprises all land which is outside the settlements defined in Appendix 3 at A.3.6 or which is not designated for future development on an Area Plan. Development which would adversely affect the countryside will not be permitted unless there is an over-riding national need in land use planning terms which outweighs the requirement to protect these areas and for which there is no reasonable and acceptable alternative."

Infrastructure Policy 3 states that "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."

## Relevant Planning History

The following previous applications are considered relevant in the consideration of this application:

### Representations

Laxey Commissioners have no objection to the application The occupier of 2 Glen View, South Cape, Laxey has commented that the existing cabinets are very visible from Ballacollister Road and Telephone Exchange Road, and there is no need for this addition, as there are 2 mobile phone suppliers already with equipment on the mast. The occupier this will lead to more antenna on the mast and questions how many are allowed under permitted development, as there are already at least seven aerials/antenna on the mast.

### Assessment

There is a preliminary issue prior to considering whether the plans submitted are acceptable in order to accurately assess the application.

The original application was submitted with a proposed site plan, south west elevation and a headframe detail for the mast. Following a review of the plans, the south west elevation does show the proposed cabinet. The applicant was requested to submit an additional elevation, namely the south east elevation. The applicant has submitted a revised plan, which was received on the 8th September 2008. However, it was noted that the additional elevation submitted, which is marked up as being the south east elevation is in fact an incorrect south west elevation and an incorrect north west elevation, which does accurately show the position of the mast with the cabinets or vice versa.

On the 18th December 2008, an amended plans was received showing the south east and north west elevations; however, the plans are the same as the plans which was received on the 8th September. The application does show one elevation of the elevation of the proposed cabinet. It is therefore just about possible to assess this application.

The proposed cabinet will be set behind an existing cabinet and will not be visible from Ballacollister Road and the Old Telephone Exchange Road. The cabinet will be colour coated green. The proposal will not adversely affect the visual amenities of the locality.

The objector is more concerned about the antenna system. This is not part of the planning application. The application is just for the installation of equipment cabinets

## Conclusion

It is recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions in the attached schedule.

### 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 resident of 2 Glen View is not an adjoining landowner and therefore does not accord with Government Circular 1/06 and therefore should not be granted party status in this instance. Furthermore, the objector raises point which fall outside the scope of the planning application and therefore can not be considered by the planning authority.

### Recommendation

Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 20.01.2009

### Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal

### C : Conditions for approval

N : Notes attached to conditions
R : Reasons for refusal
- : 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 equipment cabinets as shown in drawing numbers 18843_00_004_01, 18843_30_150_M08_08, 18843_30_160_M08_08 and 18843_30_100_M08_08 date stamped 11th April 2008.

C 3. Within one month of the installation of the equipment cabinets hereby approved, they shall be colour coated in full accordance with the approved details. Any replacement or modification shall be colour coated to match within one month of being carried out.

C 4. In the event of the equipment cabinets erected under this approval becoming redundant it must be taken down and removed from the site within 3 months of cessation of use.

I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 56/08 (Delegation of Functions to the Acting Senior Planning Officer), GC 55/08 for Advertisements and 69/08 for Registered Buildings.

Decision Made : Permitted
Date :
Signed :
Acting Senior Planning Officer

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*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/85354-lonan-transmitter-site-chibbyr-pheric-road-equipment-cabinets/documents/1525377*