Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
CommunicationsInfrastructureDecember 2013
Page 3December 2013
Contents
Communications Infrastructure 4
Introduction 4
PolicyContext 4
LocalDevelopmentPlan 4
CommunicationsInfrastructure 5
StatutoryandOtherRequirements 5
OtherInformationRequirements 5
PolicyGuidance 6
PaletteofColours 10
Glossary 10
Page
Page 4 December 2013
Communications Infrastructure
Policy ContextNational Guidance
IntroductionThisdocumentsetsoutguidanceforapplicantsseekingconsentforelectroniccommunicationsequipmentinstallationswithinEdinburgh.
Theseguidelinesapplytoelectroniccommunicationsrelatedinstallationsincludingmasts,poles,equipmentcabinsetc(includingfixedradioaccessaerials)onacitywidebasis.
ScottishPlanningPolicy(SPP)expectsplanningauthoritiestosupporttheexpansionoftheelectroniccommunicationsnetwork,includingelectroniccommunicationsequipment,broadbandanddigitalinfrastructure.TheGovernment’sobjectiveistoensurethateveryonecanenjoythesamedegreeofaccesstohighqualityelectroniccommunicationopportunities.Butinawaythatkeepstheenvironmentalimpactofcommunicationsinfrastructuretoaminimum.
(SPPConsultationdraft:Theplanningsystemshouldsupport:
• developmentwhichhelpstodelivertheScottishGovernment’scommitmenttoworldclassdigitalconnectivity;and
• theprovisionofdigitalcommunicationsinfrastructurewhichissitedanddesignedtokeepenvironmentalimpactstoaminimum.)
PlanningAdviceNote:PAN62“RadioTelecommunications”providesadviceandbestpracticeonthesitinganddesignofthesedevelopments,inparticularwithregardtothehistoricenvironmentandareasofnaturalheritage,aswellastechnicalbackgroundinformation.
TheadoptedRuralWestEdinburghLocalPlanPolicyE48supportselectroniccommunicationsequipmentexceptwhereitwouldcauseanunacceptedimpactonanaturalresourceorvisualdamagetotheenvironment.PolicyE49setsoutthefactorsthatoperatorsshouldtakeintoaccountwhereaproposalisacceptableinprinciple.
TheadoptedEdinburghCityLocalPlanPolicyInf5alsosupportscommunicationsequipmentprovidedthevisualimpacthasbeenminimised,thatallpracticaloptionsoralternativeshavebeenconsidered,andtheproposalwouldnotharmthebuilt/naturalenvironment.
TheProposedLocalDevelopmentPlanPolicyRS7setsoutasimilarpolicytotheadoptedEdinburghCityLocalplan.
Local Development Plan
Further InformationLocationsofmastscanbefoundat
http://sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk
Ifyourequireanyfurtherinformationorclarificationafterreadingthisdocument,pleasevisitourwebsiteat
www.edinburgh.gov.uk/planning
orcontactthePlanningHelpdeskon01315293571
Page 5December 2013
Statutory and Other Requirements
Permitted Development Rights
Class67oftheGeneralPermittedDevelopment(Scotland)Order1992(GDPO),asamendedgrantslimitedpermitteddevelopmentrightstoelectroniccommunicationsdevelopmentsandsetsoutvariousconditionsthatapplytoproposalsthatfallwithinPermittedDevelopment.TheElectronicCommunicationsCode(ConditionsandRestrictions)2003isdesignedtofacilitatetheinstallationandmaintenanceofelectroniccommunicationsnetwork.Itconfersrightsonprovidersofsuchnetworks,andonprovidersofsystemsconduits,toinstallandmaintainapparatusin,overandunderlandresultinginconsiderablysimplifiedplanningprocedures.
Health Issues
ItshouldbenotedthatNationalPlanningGuidance(SPP)makesitclearthatissuessuchashealthinthecontextoftelecommunicationsaremattersthatarecontrolledandregulatedbyotherlegislation,nottheplanningsystem.Itisnotnecessaryforplanningauthoritiestotreatradiofrequencyradiationasamaterialconsideration.Similarlytheperceptionofhealthriskisnotamatterthattheplanningsystemisexpectedtoaddress.
TownandCountryPlanning(DevelopmentManagementProcedure)(Scotland)regulations2013Regulation3(f )statesthatplanningapplicationsforelectroniccommunicationsdevelopmentsinvolvinginstallationofanantennamustbeaccompaniedbyadeclarationthatthedevelopmentisdesignedtocomplywithpublicexposureguidelinesofICNIRP(InternationalCommissiononNon-IonisingRadiation).Thisdeclarationisrequiredtomeetthecurrentgovernmentrequirementsandsatisfactorilyaddressestheissuesofpotentialorperceivedhealthrisk.Theplanningauthorityisnotthestatutorybodyresponsiblefordealingwiththepublichealthissuesarisingfromtheseregulations.
ItisrecommendedthatindividualswithconcernsaboutthehealthissuesshouldcontactOffcom.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk
Pre - Application InformationPAN62encouragesnetworkoperatorstocontactlocalauthoritiesbeforesubmittingapplications.TheCouncilwillrequirethefollowinginformationtobeprovidedwitheachproposal;
• Thesearcharea.
• Alistofalternativesites.
• Detailsofanypublicconsultationexercises.
Inaddition,networkoperatorsarealsoencouragedtodiscussforthcomingnetworkintentionswellinadvanceofdetailedsiteplanningexercises.
Application Information
Whenanapplicationissubmitted,informationonthefollowingmustbeprovided;
• Theexistingequipmentinthevicinityoftherequiredcoveragearea.
• Thealternativesitesanddesignsthathavebeenexplored,andthereasonsfordiscountingthese.
• Supportinginformationanddetailsthathavebeenexplored,andthereasonsfordiscountingthese.
• Aplanshowingthecoverageplotandphotomontageoftheproposeddevelopment.
• AcertificateofICNIRP.
Development Briefs and MasterplansItisimportantthatelectroniccommunicationsdevelopmentistakenintoaccountwhenpreparingdevelopmentbriefsandmasterplansfornewdevelopments.Failuretotakethisintoaccountcanresultindevelopmentswithpoornetworkcoverageandalackofappropriatesiteswithinthemforsubsequentinstallationofelectroniccommunicationsequipment.Suchanapproachisshortsitedandwillresultinpoorqualityinstallations.Therefore,itisimportantthattheelectroniccommunicationsissueisaddressedatanearlystage.
Other Information Requirements
Communications Infrastructure
Page 6 December 2013
Policy GuidanceSite OptionsAlltelecommunicationsproposalswillbeconsideredontheirownmeritswithreferencetorelevantplanningpolicies.Theaimisthattheequipmentshouldbecomeanacceptedandunobtrusivefeatureofbothurbanandruralareas.Thedesignshouldbetheleastvisuallyintrusivesolutionforitsimmediateenvironment.WherepossibleDistributedAntennaSystemsshouldbeconsideredasanalternativetostandardequipmentasthemajorityofsuchequipmentiseithernotdevelopmentorpermitted.Inassessingplanningapplicationsproposalsfornewsites,theCouncilexpectsoperatorstodemonstratethattheyhaveconsideredthefollowingoptions,inorderofpreference,beforeanewgroundmastisconsidered.
1.Theuseofexistingstructureswiththepotentialtodisguise/camouflageequipment,forexamplefloodlightingtowersandelectricitypylons.
2.Thesharingofexistingelectroniccommunicationssitesonmasts,structuresandbuildingsprovidedtheadditionalapparatusdoesnotresultinanadversevisualimpact.
3.Electroniccommunicationsequipmentonexistingbuildingsandstructureswheretherearenoexistingsites,andwhereitwouldhaveanadversevisualimpact.
Wheretherearenoopportunitiestoinstallapparatuson/withinbuildingsorstructures,theerectionofgroundbasedmastsmaybeacceptable.Inthiscase,itwillbeexpectedthatoperatorswill;
1.Sharenewmastswherethisrepresentsthebestenvironmentalsolution(Note,thiswilldependonthecumulativevisualimpactoftheadditionalapparatus)or
2.Groupinstallationstogetherwherethishasalesserenvironmentalimpact,or
3.Locateequipmentnearexistingsuitablestructuresandverticalelements,forexamplepylons,streetlampsetc.
Asrequiredbypermitteddevelopmentrightsorthroughconditions,operatorswillhavetoremoveoldelectroniccommunicationsequipmentwhenitisredundant.
General Design Guidelines
Siting
1.Electroniccommunicationsdevelopmentanditsassociatedequipment,forexample,equipmenthousings,fencingetc,willbeconsideredtogethertoensuretheyareallsitedanddesignedtominimisevisualimpact.Planningpermissionwillnotbegrantedunlessfulldetailsofallequipmentissubmitted.
2.Electroniccommunicationsdevelopment,thatislikelytohaveanadverseimpactonthecity’sskylineorviewsinto/outofthecityincludingviewsoflandmarkbuildingsshouldbeavoided.
3.WhereequipmentistobesitedonabuildingorstructuretheCouncilencourageselectroniccommunicationscompaniestonegotiatewiththepropertyownerstoensureequipmentcabinsarelocatedwithinthebuildingoradjacenttoexistingplanthousings.
4.Ifsharingasite,equipmentcabinsshouldbegroupedtoensurethattheyreadasoneelementoragroupfeature,ratherthanaseriesofsingleelements.
Communications Infrastructure
Good example of disguised equipment
Good example of equipment disguised within existing structuresPhotographscourtesyofDynamicConcepts
3 7
Page 7December 2013
Communications Infrastructure
Design
5.Inalllocationstechniquestodisguiseorconcealequipment(discreetdesigns)willbeencouraged.
6.Whereverticalfeaturesarepresent,thedesignofamastshouldreflectthese.Forexample,ataperedlatticemasttofitwiththeexistingpylons,ormonopoletofitwiththetelegraphpoles.
7.Subjecttotechnicalfeasibility,thetypeandlocationofantennashouldbetheleastvisuallyintrusive.Forexample,omnidirectionalantennaonasinglelatticemast.
8.Electroniccommunicationsequipmentshouldbepaintedanappropriatecolour(mattfinish)torelatetothebackground/surroundingsorexistingfeatures(e.g.lampposts).Whereamastbreakstheskylineitshouldbepaintedgrey.Apaletteofcolourscanbefoundattheendofthisguideline.
9.Equipmentcabinsshouldbekepttoaminimum,preferablyone,inthesmallestsizecurrentlyavailable.Asnewsmallersizedcabinsbecomeavailable,theCouncilwillexpectthemtobeusedasafirstchoice.
10.ElectroniccommunicationscompaniesshouldliaisewiththeCouncil’srelevantLocalAreaRoads
ManagertoensurethatequipmentmeetstherequirementsoftheRoadsScotlandAct1984.Wherefeasiblemastsandequipmentshouldbelocatedwithinthevergeandoffthefootway.Whereequipmentislocatedonafootway,companiesshouldaimtoachievethefollowingstandards:
• Equipmentshouldbelocatedtothebackoffootways.
• Equipmentshouldavoidbeingwithin20mofapedestriancrossingorcorner.
• Equipmentwithdoorsopenshouldavoidreducingfootpathwidthtolessthan2m.
• Equipmentshouldavoidbeinglocatedontheapproachsideofbusstopsiftheviewofbusesisobstructed.
• Equipmentshouldnotbelocatedwithinthevisibilitysplaysforpedestriansandvehiculartraffic.
Thedesignoffencingandgatesforbasestationsshouldreflectthecharacterofthesurroundingarea/landscapeinwhichthestationislocated.
• Anysecuritymeasuresshouldnotunnecessarilydetractfromthelocation/environment.
• Anyformoflightingshouldnotcauselightpollutiontoneighbouringpropertiesorhaveanadverseimpactonthenaturallandscape.
• Wherethereisanexistingpowersupply,cablerunsshouldbeunseen,includinginstallationsonexistingbuildings/structuresandoverhearpoles;otherwisearchitecturaldetailingorareaofshadowshouldbeusedtominimisevisibility.
Detailed Design GuidelinesComprehensiveadviceandbestpracticeguidanceonthedesignandlocationofelectroniccommunicationsequipmentissetoutinPAN62.Thisguideline,inadditiontothegeneraldesignguidelinesthatshouldbeappliedtoallproposals,setsoutthefollowingareaspecificadvice.
Countryside
Siting
1.Thesitingofelectroniccommunicationsdevelopmentsshouldtakeadvantageofexistingtopographyandvegetationtohelpintegratethedevelopmentwithitssurroundings.
2.Sitesthatarelocatedontheskylineshouldbeavoided.Wherehilltoplocationsareunavoidable,theequipmentshouldbelocatedbelowthebrowofthehilltocreateabackdropforthedevelopment.
Design
3.Plantingtointegrateequipmentwiththesurroundingswillbeencouragedandshouldreflecttheexistinglandscape/nativespecies.Informationonitsmanagementduringitsestablishmentphasemustbeprovided.
3
7
Good and bad examples of lattice mast location
Bad example of monopole location
Suitability of mast sharing depends on location
3 7
7
Page 8 December 2013
4.Whereamastislocatedagainstalandscapebackdropthenanopenmastdesignthatwouldallowvisualpermeabilitywouldbepreferred.
5.Whereverticalfeaturesarepresent,thedesignofamastshouldreflectthese–forexample,ataperedlatticemasttofitwithpylons,ormonopoletofitwithtelegraphpoles.
Power supply
6.Wherethereisnoexistingpowersupply,thedesignofanysupplywillbeconsideredinthecontextofits‘fit’withthesurroundingcharacter.Undergroundingcablingwillbethepreferredoptioninmostcases.
7.Ageneratormaybeacceptablewherethereisalackofanundergroundsupplysubjecttomitigationofitsenvironmentalaffectsincludingnoise.Thelocationanddesignoftheequipmentshouldbesympathetictothesite.
Access
8.Newaccesstracksshouldbeavoidedandpreferablynewequipmentshouldbelocatednexttoexistingtracks.
9.Whereanewaccesstrackisunavoidable,thetrackandancillaryfeaturesmustbeintegratedintothelandscape,respondingtotheexistinglandformbyrelatingittothefieldboundaries,boundariesofnaturalvegetationandotherfeatures.Appropriatesurfacematerialmustbeusede.g.greenroad.
Industrial/Commercial Areas
1.Whereamastislocatedagainstanindustrial/commercialbackdropthenanopenlatticedesignthatwouldallowvisualpermeabilitywouldnormallyberequired.
Heritage/Conservation Areas
Listed Buildings
1.Consentwillnotbegrantedforelectroniccommunicationsinstallationsin,onornearalistedbuildingwheretheproposaladverselyaffectsthecharacterorsettingofthelistedbuilding.
2.Themostappropriatelocationofanyinstallationswillbewithinbuildings,preferablyinareasofsecondaryimportancesuchasbasementsandattics,aslongastheinternalcharacterisnotcompromisedandnoassociatedexternalalterationsarerequired.Whereitisnotpossibletolocateinstallationsinternallywithoutexternalchanges,considerationwillbegiventoinstallationsinoronbuildingsorstructureswherethefollowingcriteriacanbemet:
• Theinstallation(includingallbasestationcomponentsandassociatedequipment)mustbeeffectivelyhiddenordisguisedinanappropriatemannerthatrespectsthecharacterandarchitecturaldetailingofthelistedbuilding,and
• Therewouldbenophysicaldamagetothebuildingorstructure;and
Communications Infrastructure
Therewouldbenoremovalofimportantoriginalorhistoricalfabric;and
• Noadditionalarchitecturalfeatureswillbepermitted,althoughlikeforlikereinstatementofarchitecturalfeaturesthathavebeenlostmaybebeacceptablethroughtheuseofdiscreetdesigns.
3.Whereitisproposedtositeinstallationsnearalistedbuilding,suchinstallationsmustbelocatedinamannerthatpreservesorenhancesthecharacterofalistedbuilding’ssetting.Forexample,itwillbenecessarytoensurethatimportantviewsofandfromthebuildingarenotinterruptedbyelectroniccommunicationsequipment.
Conservation Areas
Thefollowingadditionalguidelinesapplytoproposalsintheseareas:
1.Anyelectroniccommunicationsdevelopmentmustpreserveorenhancetheparticularcharacter,appearance,settingandcontextofthearea,andnotadverselyaffectitsintegrityortheobjectivesunderlyingitsdesignation.
Louvre replaced on a listed building with radio transparent replicaPhotographscourtesyofDynamicConcepts
Good example of disguised equipment
Page 9December 2013
Communications Infrastructure
2.Operatorsmustgivespecialconsiderationtothe locationandappearanceofelectroniccommunica-tionsequipment,toensureminimumintrusiveness.
3.WhilsttheCouncilispreparedtorespondpositivelytoelectroniccommunicationsproposalsand willexamineanyappropriatesiteanddesign,theimportanceofcertainlocationsmayprecludeany formofinstallationfrombeingacceptable.
Other Sensitive Areas
Theadditionalguidelinesbelowapplytoproposalsinthefollowingsensitivelocations:
GreenBelt
PentlandHillsRegionalPark
SpecialProtectionAreasandSitesofSpecialScientificInterest
DesignedLandscapesandSpecialLandscapeAreas
LocalNatureReservesorLocalNatureConservationSites
SchedulesAncientMonuments
SitesofknownorsuspectedArchaeologicalImportance.
1.Anyelectroniccommunicationsdevelopmentmustrespecttheparticularcharacter,appearance,settingandcontextoftheareaandnotadverselyaffectitsintegrityortheobjectivesunderlyingitsdesignation.
2.Operatorsmustgivespecialconsiderationtothelocationandappearanceofelectroniccommunicationsequipment,toensureminimumintrusiveness.
3.Inareasofimportancefornaturalheritage,developmentshouldnotcontributetolossordamageofhabitats.Inaddition,constructionshouldbetimedtoavoiddisturbancetowildlifeduringsensitiveperiodse.g.breedingseason.
Palette of ColoursElectroniccommunicationsequipmentshouldnormallybepaintedwithamattfinishinoneormoreofthefollowingapprovedcolours:
Grey
RAL 7047 (Telegrey 4)
Brown
RAL 8008 (Olive Brown)
Green
RAL 6001 (Emerald Green)
RAL 6002 (Leafy Green)
RAL 6003 (Olive Green)
RAL 6004 (Blue Green)
RAL 6005 (Moss Green)
RAL 6009 (Fir Green)
Black
RAL 9004 (Signal Black)
RAL 9005 (Jet Black)
Theremaybecircumstancewherealternativecoloursarerequiredtohelpblendequipmentinwithitssurroundings.Alternativecoloursshouldonlybeusedwiththepriorapprovaloftheplanningauthority.
A silicon mould was taken from the original pinnacle
Replica chimney housing equipmentPhotographscourtesyofDynamicConcepts
Page 10 December 2013
Communications Infrastructure
Reasoned Justification
TheTelecommunicationsActde-regulatedtheBritishtelecommunicationsindustry,openingupthemarketforothercompanies.Underthetermsoftheirlicence,thenewcompanieshadalegalobligationtoprovideextensivecoverageoftheUK.Eachcompanyrequiresanetworkofinstallationsand,inthecitycentres,wherethereisaconcentrationofusers,thereisaneedtoprovidemoreinstallationsclosetogethertocaterfornetworkdemand.Theinstallationsgenerallyconsistofamicrowareantenna,eitherfacemountedtoabuildingorsupportedonapole/mastandarelinkedtoanequipmentcabin.
Thetelecommunicationsindustrycontinuestoexpand,andnewgenerationsofmobiletechnologywithimprovednetworkfunctionalitycontinuetobebroughtforward.Theseareworld-widetrends,andScotlandmustbepartofthesechangesinordertomaintainandimproveitspositionintheglobaleconomy.ThisalsohelpstoreducethedisadvantageofaperipherallocationinEurope.
TheCouncilacceptstheneedfornewelectroniccommicationsequipmentintheEdinburgharea.However,asserviceprovisiongrows,thepotentialimpactissignificantparticularlywithinenvironmentallysensitivepartsofEdinburghanditssurroundingarea.Nevertheless,thecompanieshavetoprovidecoverageandtherearesignificantadvantagesofmobilecommunications.Therefore,installationswillbeconsideredinsensitiveareaoronlistedbuildings.However,seriousconsiderationmustbegiventovisualimpactandcompaniesmustaimtofindthebestsolution.Therewillalwaysbecertainlocationswhereinstallationsarenotacceptable.
GlossaryAntenna:
Apassiveelectricalcomponentwhichcantransmitandreceiveradiowaves.
ICNIRP:
InternationalCommissiononNon-IonisingRadiationProtection.Responsibleforcoordinatingknowledgeofprotectionagainstvariousnon-ionisingradiations.Workencompassesenvironmentalhealthcriteriaondifferentaspectsofnon-ionisingradiation.
Fixed Radio Access:
Alowpowerradiosystemforconnectingindividualsubscribersinbuildingstoabasestation.
Non-ionising radiation:
Radiationthatdoesnotproduceionisationinmattere.g.light,ultravioletandradio.WhentheseradiationspassthroughthetissuesofthebodytheydonothavesufficientenergytodamageDNAdirectly.
Radio Base Station:
Afixedradiotransmitter/receiverwhichelectronicallyrelayssignalstoandfromhandsetsandotherdateterminals.
Microconnect Distributed Antenna:
Thissysteminvolves,inareasofhighmobileusage,theuseofsmallantennaelocatedonexistinglampposts,streetsignsetc,connectedbyfibreopticstomobilebasestations.
Communications Infrastructure
Want to give us your feedback?
Ifposting,usethisaddresstoavoidtheneedforastamp: DevelopmentPlanningFREEPOSTRSJS–UBAT–GHYLMailpointG3CityofEdinburghCouncil,WaverleyCourt,4EastMarketStreet,Edinburgh,EH88BG
1 What did you use this document to do?
Prepareanapplicationsubmission Commentonanapplication Other(pleaseuseboxtospecify)
Pleasegiveanyfurtherdetails(ifappropriate):
3 How did you access this document?
Papercopy Onlinecopy Bothpaperandonline
2 How easy to understand was this document?
Veryeasy Fairlyeasy Fairlydifficult Verydifficult Don’tknow
Pleasegivedetails:
4 Which of these best describes you? (Please only choose one option)
Memberofthepublic CommunityGroup Planningconsultant/Architect Operator
Page 13December 2013
You can get this document on tape, in Braille, large print and various computer formats if you ask us. Please contact ITS on 0131 242 8181 and quote reference number 13-0408. ITS can also give
information on community language translations. You can get more copies of this document by calling 0131 529 7635 or 529 7627.
TheCityofEdinburghCouncilServicesforCommunitiesSeptember2013