Replacement Calderdale UDP : Adopted 25 August 2006 (as amended August 2009)

Replacement Calderdale UDP : Adopted 25 August 2006

• Foreword
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Calderdale in Context
• Strategic and Core Part One Policies
• 3 Guiding Principles and Key Themes
• 4 Employment, The Economy, Tourism and Regeneration
• 5 Housing
• 6 Retailing and Town Centres
• 7 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Facilities
• 8 The Built and Historic Environment
  • The Contribution of Design to the Quality of the Built Environment
  • Piecemeal Development
  • General Design Criteria
  • Privacy, Daylighting and Amenity Space in New Development
  • Landscaping of New Development
  • Safety and Security Considerations within New Developments
  • Design and Layout of Highways and Accesses in New Development
  • Provision of Safe Pedestrian Environments in New Development
  • CCTV and Area Lighting Schemes
  • Access and the Provision of Public Conveniences and Baby Changing Facilities in New Development
  • Art in Public Places
  • Telecommunications Development
  • Advertisements
  • The Historic Built Environment
• 9 Transport
• 10 Infrastructure, Education and Community Facilities
• 11 Natural Environment and the Countryside
• 12 Environmental Protection
• 13 Minerals
• 14 Waste Management
• 15 Monitoring and Review of the Plan
• Annex A Privacy, Daylighting and Amenity Space
• Annex B Trees On or Adjacent to Development Sites
• Appendix 1 National Planning Policy
• Appendix 2 National Minerals Policy
• Appendix 3 Supporting Published Documents
• Appendix 4 Glossary of Terms
• Appendix 5 Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Appendix 6 Policy Topic Index
• Appendix 7 Policy Number Comparison
• Appendix 8 Supplementary Maps

Telecommunications Development

8.27 Telecommunication systems have developed rapidly in recent years and are likely to continue to do so throughout the plan period as new developments in communications technology are introduced. Telecommunications have become an essential element in modern communication systems and the Council will endeavour to facilitate its growth. This must be balanced against a need to protect important and sensitive environments, as well as residential amenity and other features of acknowledged importance. Government advice is contained in PPG 8 ‘Telecommunications’ (2001) and the 'Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development' (ODPM 2002) .

8.28 Telecommunications development includes all forms of communications by electrical or optical wire and cable and radio signals and encompasses various components including antennae, satellite dishes, aerials, transmitters, masts, base stations, cable installations and associated equipment cabins. By their very nature such modern telecommunications equipment will often appear conspicuous or obtrusive in the urban and rural landscape and can have a serious effect on the appearance of buildings and the street scene.

8.29 Advice on minimising the impact of telecommunications installations can be gained from the Code of Best Practice such as sharing of installations (such as masts) and sites, investigating more appropriate alternative sites, and disguising or screening infrastructure. Proposals for telecommunications development will have to show that these have been fully explored and that siting and design (including materials and colour) have been carefully considered along with appropriate measures, including landscaping and screening, to avoid adverse impact. These requirements will help to ensure that the visual and amenity impacts of the telecommunications development will be minimised.

8.30 The Council will oppose telecommunication installations that would be unduly visually obtrusive in either the street scene or the landscape and would detract from amenity (including that of local residents), unless it can be demonstrated that there is an overriding need and technical constraints prevent a more favourable proposal being chosen. Industrial and commercial areas are often locations within which telecommunications installations are most suitable.

8.31 Telecommunication installations will present particular problems when proposed in environmentally sensitive areas and within historic environments. These include: Scheduled Ancient Monuments; the Special Area of Conservation; the Special Protection Area and In-bye land around it; Sites of Special Scientific Interest; Special Landscape Areas; Sites of Ecological or Geological Interest; Priority Habitats and Species identified in the Calderdale Biodiversity Action Plan; and the Green Belt as shown on the Proposals Map. In such areas, the Council will apply more stringent control over the siting and design of telecommunications installations, refusing proposals likely to demonstrably harm interests of acknowledged importance unless there are overriding circumstances that justify approval. Telecommunications installations will also need to be carefully considered to ensure the protection of the historic environment. Telecommunications installations on Listed Buildings can be obtrusive and affect their character as buildings of architectural or historic interest. Siting on or within the curtilage of a Listed Building will only be acceptable where great care is taken to minimise the inherently adverse effect of the apparatus on the Listed Building and its setting. Similarly, it should be ensured that telecommunications development does not unacceptably harm the character, appearance, setting or features of Historic Parks and Gardens and that the character and appearance of Conservation Areas is preserved or enhanced. Telecommunications equipment that would significantly affect the special interests and character of environmentally sensitive areas or the historic environment should preferably be sited elsewhere. Where this would not be technically possible, proposals will need to show that no more environmentally acceptable alternatives or sites exist and that every attempt has been made to minimise obtrusiveness by siting and design, including disguising or concealing the equipment.

8.32 During the course of the plan period some telecommunications installations may become redundant, due to rationalisation of the industry or advances in technology. When such cases arise the particular installation (such as a mast) will be required to be removed and the site either landscaped or returned to its previous condition. This will have been secured either through a planning condition or planning obligation.

8.33 Following public debate concerning the possible adverse health impacts of telecommunications development, in particular the effect of electromagnetic fields, the Stewart Report was published in May 2000 which examined the health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters. In respect of base stations the report concluded, “the balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of the guidelines”. However, gaps in current scientific knowledge led the group to recommend a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phone technologies until more detailed and scientifically robust information becomes available. Guidelines on exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation have been published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP, 1998). The ICNIRP guidelines for the public have been incorporated in a European Council Recommendation (1999), which has been agreed in principle by all countries in the European Union. The Government has adopted the Stewart Report recommendation that the ICNIRP guidelines for public exposure be adopted for use in the UK. In line with the approach recommended in the Stewart Report, all antenna and mobile phone base stations will have to meet the guidelines of the ICNIRP for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields. Health considerations and public concern can in principle be material considerations in determining applications for planning permission and prior approval. However, PPG 8 states that “if a proposed mobile phone base station meets the ICNIRP guidelines for public exposure it should not be necessary for a local planning authority, in processing an application for planning permission or prior approval, to consider further the health aspects and concerns about them”. Therefore, all applications for antenna and base stations should be accompanied by a declaration that the equipment and installation is designed to be in full compliance with appropriate radiation safety requirements of ICNIRP or any subsequent guidance that may be published in the future by this body, the National Radiological Protection Board or other research findings as may be recommended by the Government. Calderdale Council, in its capacity as landowner, adopted a policy in July 2001 that no telecommunication masts or other installations should be placed on Council owned land within 100 metres of school buildings, or any other buildings, where children are present. This policy is reviewed annually and as such is subject to change.

8.34 The installation of a wide range of telecommunications equipment benefits from permitted development rights under the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) Order, 1995 (as amended 1999). These permitted development rights do not generally apply in special areas such as Conservation Areas. Certain permitted development, including the erection of masts, is conditional upon the operator applying for the Council’s determination as to whether its prior approval of the siting and appearance of the telecommunications equipment is required. In such cases, reliance will be placed on the telecommunications system service provider to adhere to their statutory obligations. Telecommunications prior approval notifications and planning applications will be considered and assessed against the following Policy:-

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