Campaigning for the countryside in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
For quick access to advice on planning and other countryside isues select
an item from the list below:
Advice home page.
The Lancashire Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural
England
Hazelwell House,
Station Road,
Bamber Bridge,
Preston,
Lancashire,
PR5 6TT
Tel: 01772 627510
Email: ruralengland@btconnect.com
Registered Charity Numbers : 221244 and 1107376
The Lancashire Branch of CPRE is a Company Limited By Guarantee registered in England, no. 5291461
Lancashire CPRE is a charity and provides all the content of these pages free of charge to the general public.
If you use the resources provided please consider joining us or making a donation to help us carry out our activities.
Telecommunications Masts
Why are telecommunications masts being erected?
The Department of Trade and Industry have licensed 4 major code system operators: CellnetVodaphoneOrange Mercury One to One. These companies operate personal communications networks which require mast spacing under 5 miles. The network is still being expanded meet capacity geographical needs mobile phone users.
Are Masts and Antennae subject to planning control?
Currently local planning authorities are presented with either a request for determination as to whether prior approval is required or an individual planning application for masts over 15 metres high.
How is a request for determination dealt with?
A local planning authority has 28 days in which to notify a developer if prior approval is required. Usually masts under 15 metres benefit from permitted development rights unless an Article 4 Direction is issued. There is no statutory requirement for publicity or consultation, however, comments may be made to the local planning authority.
When are Article 4 Directions issued?
In cases when permitted development rights pose a serious threat to the amenity of a locality an Article 4 Direction may be issued by a local planning authority to require that permitted development rights are withdrawn and a full planning application submitted. The approval of the Secretary of State is required and compensation may be payable.
Do other controls exist?
A voluntary Code of Best Practice was agreed in March 1996. It was drawn up by the operators, local authorities and government departments concerned. It applies only to those masts under 15 metres. Under the Code operators should provide local planning authorities with details of their existing and proposed district-wide networks of masts.
What can be done to minimise the environmental impact?
- The local planning authority can influence the siting of masts by maintaining a register of existing masts and other structures to which apparatus may be attached.
- Mast sharing by the operators could be encouraged.
- Conditions may be imposed on the planning consent, for example, the local planning authority may stipulate the design or colour of the mast or require operators to inform them when a mast becomes redundant and to bear the cost of its removal and the restoration of the site to its original condition.
Keys to Action
- Ask the local planning authority to be informed of proposals which do not require planning permission in order to comment on their impact or to propose alternative sites for consideration.
- Ask local planning authorities if the operators have provided details of their district-wide network and exhausted the possibilities for sharing or placing antennae on existing structures.
- Press local planning authorities to impose planning conditions when appropriate.
Other Information
DoE Telecommunications Prior Approval Procedures: code
of Best Practice (1996) Free of Charge.
Telephone Orders 0181 691 9191
Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995
Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (PPG8) Telecommunications
Both from The Stationary Office Ltd. Telephone Orders 0171 873 9090