Agenda Item No. Reference No. Better Local Government ISLEWORTH AND BRENTFORD AREA COMMITTEE 25 JULY 2003 DRAFT SUPLEMENTARY PLANNING GUIDANCE ON SUSTAINABLE MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT Report by: Borough Planning Officer Summary 1. This Report informs Members of the proposed Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Mobile Telecommunication Development. The Report also outlines its key issues. RECOMMENDATION: That Members: 1. Consider the proposed Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance and use in the determination of relevant planning applications. 2. Recommend to the Sustainable Development Committee that the Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance should be published for consultation purposes. [email protected] 2.0 Background 2.1 Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Mobile Telecommunication Development was requested by the Sustainable Development Committee to provide detailed advice on the implementation of Policy ENV-B.1.7 (Telecommunications) of the Revised Deposit Proposed Modifications UDP (January 2003). 2.2 This request followed the publication of Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (PPG8) – the key government guidance on telecommunication development planning. 2.3 Government Guidance (PPG12 Development Plans) allows local planning authorities to prepare supplementary planning guidance to provide detailed guidance as to how Unitary Development Plan Policies will be applied in particular circumstances. 2.4 Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) is non-statutory guidance but it may be taken into account as a material consideration when considering development applications. The weight accorded to it is increased if it has been prepared in consultation with the public and has been the subject of a Council resolution. 2.5 In November 2002 the Government published a Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development. Key elements of the Best Practice Code, PPG8 and other legislation have been incorporated into the Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance. 2.6 The growth in demand for mobile phones in recent years and the granting of third generation network licences to four operators by the Government has resulted in a proliferation of telecommunication installations in the Borough. Hounslow’s topography, position in West London adjacent to a number of major transport routes and competing developmental pressures has further stimulated mobile telecommunication development locally. 2.7 The proposed Draft SPG will assist officers and Members when assessing and determining telecommunication applications for planning consent and prior approvals. 3.0 Key Elements of the Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance 3.1 The Policy Background highlights planning guidance and policies for the SPG in terms of the National, Metropolitan and UDP context. Details of the growth of the different networks is provided including TETRA networks. 3.2 The second key area of the SPG explains the separate and very distinct Prior Approval and Planning Permission Processes. It explains how the processes operate and details the supporting [email protected] information requirements for applicants and issues relating to multiple networks on one site. 3.3 The Location and Siting section details the key issues for Hounslow in terms of Telecommunication Development in the Green Belt, Metropolitan Open Land, Nature Conservation Areas, Historic Parks, Tall and Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Heathrow Airport. A separate section considers the issue of mast/site sharing. 3.4 The Design and Appearance section is based on the Best Practice Guide. Advice is given on the camoflaging of antennas on buildings, the importance of appropriate fencing and landscaping and Highway considerations. 3.5 The Health Considerations section expands the Government’s approach to mobile telecommunications development. It highlights the Government’s view of the findings of the Stewart Report, that as long as a proposed development conforms to the International Compliance for Exposure Guidelines for Public Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields established by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), further consideration of the risk to health will not be necessary by the local planning authority. Furthermore the Government consider that the planning system is not the place to determine health safeguards. However LBH will expect all telecommunications applications to comply with ICNIRP guidelines. 3.6 The Appendix includes a Summary of Telecommunications Permitted Development Rights, operator information, contact details and a Glossary of technical terms. 4.0 Consultations 4.1 The professional and expert advice of the Council’s environmental protection, pollution and legal officers have been incorporated into this report. 5.0 Finance 5.1 The Head of Finance comments that there are no additional costs involved in the production of the draft SPG. All costs such as staffing have been met from existing budgets. Similarly, any costs of a public consultation will be contained within existing budgets. 6.0 Equal Opportunities Implications 6.1 As virtually all of Hounslow’s residents are users of the various telecommunication sysytems, there are no specific equal opportunities considerations arising from this report. [email protected] Contact: Ian Dunsford Telephone: 020-8583-5205 Background Papers: This report has been or is due to be PPG8, Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: considered for consultation by all area Telecommunications (SDC/02/22) committees and the Sustainable Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Development Committee. Network Development (ODPM) This report is relevant to the following wards/areas: ALL [email protected] LONDON BOROUGH OF HOUNSLOW DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING GUIDANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT THE BOROUGH PLANNING OFFICER 25 June 2003 CONTENTS Page 1 Introduction 2 2 Background 4 3 Planning Policy 6 4 Planning Permission and Prior Approval 8 5 Operational Need and Development 11 6 Discussions and Consultations 13 7 Location and Siting 14 8 Mast/Site Sharing 18 9 Design and Appearance 20 10 Health Considerations 23 Appendix 1: Summary of Telecommunications Permitted Development As Amended August 2001 25 Appendix 2: Required Information Checklist for Prior Approval and Full Planning Applications 27 Appendix 3: FEI and Operators ‘Ten Commitments’ 29 Appendix 4: Operator Enquiry Points 30 Appendix 5: Useful Websites 31 Appendix 6: Glossary 32 Appendix 7: Contact Details 34 [email protected] 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This document sets out the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for Sustainable Telecommunication Installations within the London Borough of Hounslow. This guidance elaborates Hounslow’s Unitary Development Policy (UDP) Policy ENV-B.1.7 (Telecommunications) and provides detailed advice on the suitable siting and appearance of telecommunication masts and related equipment. 1.2 Telecommunications is defined as ‘all forms of communications by electrical or optical wire and cable and radio signals (whether terrestrial or from satellite), both public and private’ (PPG 8). 1.3 Domestic satellite dishes will not be dealt with in this SPG. Government guidance is provided in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) publication ‘A Householder’s Planning Guide for the Installation of Satellite Television Dishes’ (Copies available from the Borough Planning Office at the Civic Centre). This guidance is itself currently under review by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). 1.4 Growth in consumer demand for mobile telecommunications and operational requirements to improve the quality and range of services has raised a number of public concerns in a Borough which is crossed by major transport routes, has significant areas of Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land, an historic built environment and extensive residential areas. 1.5 The Government considers that modern telecommunications systems have a vital part to play in national life, bringing significant economic and societal benefits. In recent years the rapid expansion of the sector has made telecommunications a major component of the national [email protected] 2 economy. However there have been concerns as to the siting and appearance of telecommunication installations. By appreciating the essential infrastructure requirements of the network providers and the potential impact on the environment, Hounslow Council seeks to ensure by working with network providers and interested parties that telecommunication developments are sensitively delivered within the Borough. 1.6 This draft Supplementary Planning Guidance aims to elaborate: • Hounslow’s telecommunications policy • Provide guidance for telecommunications operators • Specify Hounslow’s requirements for telecommunication installations. 1.7 Planning Policy Guidance Note 12 (Development Plans) states that: • SPG may be taken into account as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. The Secretary of State will give substantial weight to an SPG which has evolved from the development plan, and has been prepared in the proper manner. • A public consultation should form part of the SPG preparation and include interested parties. These views should be taken into account before the SPG is finalised. 1.8 All references to the UDP are to the London Borough of Hounslow’s Proposed Modifications to the Revised Alterations Unitary Development