Inspector’s Report ABP-307224-20 Development Replacement of existing telecommunications support structure and addition of new telecommunications antennas, dishes and associated equipment together with ground equipment cabinets, new wall and fencing. Location Enniscorthy, Enniscorthy Rural, Co. Wexford. Planning Authority Wexford County Council Planning Authority Reg. Ref. 2020/0174 Applicant(s) Vodafone Ireland Limited. Type of Application Permission. Planning Authority Decision Grant Permission with Conditions Type of Appeal Third Party V. Decision Appellant(s) Kieran Dunne and others. Observer(s) None. ABP-307224-20 Inspector’s Report Page 1 of 20 Date of Site Inspection 29th September 2020. Inspector Susan McHugh ABP-307224-20 Inspector’s Report Page 2 of 20 Contents 1.0 Site Location and Description .............................................................................. 4 2.0 Proposed Development ....................................................................................... 4 3.0 Planning Authority Decision ................................................................................. 5 Decision ........................................................................................................ 5 Planning Authority Reports ........................................................................... 5 Prescribed Bodies ......................................................................................... 6 Third Party Observations .............................................................................. 6 4.0 Planning History ................................................................................................... 7 5.0 Policy Context ...................................................................................................... 7 National Guidelines ....................................................................................... 7 Development Plan ......................................................................................... 8 Natural Heritage Designations .................................................................... 11 EIA Screening ............................................................................................. 11 6.0 The Appeal ........................................................................................................ 11 Grounds of Appeal ...................................................................................... 11 Planning Authority Response ...................................................................... 12 Observations ............................................................................................... 12 Applicant Response .................................................................................... 12 Oral Hearing Request ................................................................................. 14 7.0 Assessment ....................................................................................................... 14 8.0 Recommendation ............................................................................................... 18 9.0 Reasons and Considerations ............................................................................. 18 10.0 Conditions ................................................................................................... 19 ABP-307224-20 Inspector’s Report Page 3 of 20 1.0 Site Location and Description The appeal site is located in the rear yard of an existing An Post sorting office, in the townland of Bellefield, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. The surrounding area is characterised by a mix of community, open space/recreational and residential uses. The appeal site adjoins the Enniscorthy Hockey Club grounds to the south, Moyne Rangers Football Club grounds to the west and north, and back of house storage area and concrete apron/yard storage sheds/parking area to the east. The residential estates of Seán Browne Court, Seán Browne Crescent and Nolan’s Lawn are located to the north, with Moran Park and Bellefield to the east and south east. The Stepping Stones Child facility is located to the north and Bellefield Early Years Centre is located adjacent to the postal sorting office along Bellefield Road. Aldi and Lidl are located further to the west and southwest of the appeal site The existing monopole is contained within a small fenced compound area in the northwest corner of the property. The appeal site is accessed via the entrance gates to the yard area located to the side of the sorting office. The monopole is 20 metres in height and includes associated telecommunications equipment and ground equipment cabin. The appeal site has a stated area of 140.4sqm. 2.0 Proposed Development Permission is sought for the replacement of an existing 20 metre high telecommunications support structure with a proposed new 25 metre high telecommunications support structure (overall height of 26.5 metres to the top of the lightning finial) carrying the telecommunications equipment transferred from the existing structure and the addition of new telecommunications antennas, dishes and associated equipment together with ground equipment together with ground equipment cabinets, new wall and fencing. The existing operator equipment cabin would remain and would be accessed via the existing entrance to the property. The proposed development also includes the ABP-307224-20 Inspector’s Report Page 4 of 20 provision of additional cabinets at ground level within an extended fenced compound area. The application for the proposed development was accompanied by the following; • Report from Agent Towercom Limited - outlining the nature and purpose of the application, a technical justification for the proposal, which includes Eir Mobile 4G and Three Ireland’s 4 G coverage footprints in the area of the proposed site, National and County Policy and Guidelines, and the visual impact of the proposed development. • Letter of Consent from owner Eir Property Services to lodge application • Letter of Support from Eir Mobile 3.0 Planning Authority Decision Decision The decision to grant permission is subject to 6 no. conditions including; Condition No.2 Allow other licenced mobile telecommunications operators to co- locate antenna onto the structure. Condition No. 3 Removal of existing monopole structure upon completion. Condition No. 4 Decommissioning requirements. Condition No. 5 Floodlighting and external illumination requirements. Condition No. 6 Compound fencing maintenance. Planning Authority Reports 3.2.1. Planning Report (dated 31/03/2020) Basis for planning authority decision. Include: • Visual Impact and Landscape – Visual impact is not significantly increased, proposed development will be more visible from a larger surrounding area, this is in the context of the urban setting and commercially zoned land. ABP-307224-20 Inspector’s Report Page 5 of 20 • Access – Existing access is through the An Post sorting office site, via an established right of way. Notes submission from An Post but having regard to the nature of the proposed development, outside the temporary construction period, development is unlikely to generate significant traffic movements to or from the site. • Policy – Notes Planning Circular Letter PL07/12, and CDP policy, replacement of existing and permitted monopole structure, an established use will allow shared co-location for other operators, is acceptable in principle on industrial commercial zoned lands. 3.2.2. Other Technical Reports Environment Section: Report dated 12/03/2020 no objection subject to requirement in relation to noise. Road Design: Report dated 12/03/2020 no objection. CFO: Report dated 12/03/2020 no comments. Prescribed Bodies None. Third Party Observations Two submissions were lodged with the planning authority from the following parties; • Kieran Dunne and Others: on behalf of Residents of Sean Browne Court, Crescent and Nolan’s Lawn, Enniscorthy. • Avison Young: on behalf of An Post, GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin 1. Kieran Dunne and Others The submission was accompanied by a petition and has been forwarded to the Board and is on file for its information. The issues raised are comparable to those raised in the third party observations to the appeal summarised in section 6 below. ABP-307224-20 Inspector’s Report Page 6 of 20 Avison Young Issues raised can be summarised as follows; • Request inclusion of a Construction Management Plan (including Traffic Plan). • Request additional detail in relation to the type and number of antennas, dishes and associated equipment to be installed to the new structure along with the need. 4.0 Planning History P.A.Reg.Ref. 2012/0403: Retention permission granted August 2012 (Ref. No. 20071270) for an existing development consisting of an existing 20 metre high telecommunications support structure with antennas, equipment container and associated equipment within a fenced compound and access track. The development forms part of Vodafone Ireland LTD’s existing GSM and 3G broadband telecommunications network for Vodafone Ireland Ltd. (file attached) Condition No. 2 limited the permission to a period of 5 years. Condition No. 3 allow other licensed mobile telecommunications operators to co- locate their antenna onto the proposed structure. P.A.Reg.Ref. 2007/1270: Retention permission granted June 2007 for existing 20 metre high telecommunications support structure, antennas, equipment container and associated equipment within the fenced compound. The development forms part of Vodafone Ireland LTD’s existing