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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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TheCityofEdinburghCouncilServicesforCommunitiesSeptember2013