Council services
Telecommunications Mast Register
This Register has been produced in line with current Central Government Guidance on Telecommunications Development that is The Town and Country (General Permitted Development) Order (amended) 1995 and Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (Revised 2001) (PPG8) . It gives details of both existing and proposed masts and is produced in Parish order for ease of reference. In addition there is a list of telecommunication masts which have either prior approval or planning consent but which do not appear on either the operators' proposed list or existing mast lists.
The register can be used both by telecommunications operators when considering proposed sites for telecommunication masts and by members of the public to see what masts exist in their area and what is proposed for the future.
The sites indicated in the proposed mast register have been provided by the telecommunication companies as part of their annual pre-rollout proposals. These sites will still have to be submitted for consideration by the Council, either as prior approval sites or as a planning application.
Operators may still put forward further proposals for additional sites to those indicated in the proposals register.
Need for Permission
Prior Approval
Under current legislation certain forms of telecommunication development are permitted development and are subject to prior approval for the development from the Local Planning Authority (LPA). The prior approval procedure means that the principle of development is not an issue. The LPA can only consider the siting and appearance of the proposal. The LPA has 56 days in which to notify the mast operators of its' determination on whether prior approval is required for siting and appearance and to notify the operator of its decision to give or refuse such approval. There is no power to extend the 56 day period. On the registers prior approval applications are prefixed TL.
The prior approval procedure applies to the construction,installation,alteration or replacement of:
- A ground based mast of up to and including 15m in height
- A mast of up to and including 15m in height installed on a building or structure
- An antennae (including any supporting structure) which exceeds the height of the building or structure (other than a mast) by 4 metres or more at the point of where it is installed or to be installed
- A public call box
- Radio equipment housing with a volume of 2.5 cubic metres
- Development ancillary to radio equipment housing (e.g Fences, access roads)
Full Planning Permission
Where the development proposed does not fall within the limitations of the prior approval procedure,for example when a proposed mast is greater than 15m in height then a full planning application is required. In considering such a proposal the LPA will take into account relevant policies of the Development Plan and any other material considerations.
Minor Development
Certain minor telecommunications proposals may not constitute development in which instance applications for prior approval or full planning permission will not be required.
Radio equipment housing with a volume of less than 2.5 cubic metres would fall into this category.
