This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Executive Toughens Telecommunication Mast Planning Rules
25/06/2001
Deputy Transport and Planning Minister Lewis Macdonald today acted to give members of the public more say on the erection of mobile phone masts.
Responding to public concern about the lack of control over the number and positioning of mobile phone masts across Scotland, the Deputy Minister today laid before the Scottish Parliament tough new planning regulations.
The regulations state:
- All new ground based masts will come under full planning control;
- Masts on buildings currently out with planning control will be greatly restricted.
The regulations will come into force in late July 2001.
Lewis Macdonald said:
"These planing controls will stem the free-for-all on the erection of mobile phone masts in communities across Scotland.
"I believe we now have rules that give more say to ordinary members of the public. No longer will companies be able to plant masts indiscriminately. These regulations will remove the feeling of powerlessness and frustration experienced in towns and villages in all parts of the country.
"I am laying the Parliamentary regulations today. They will come into force in late July and the Executive will monitor the effectiveness of the regulations in future months.
"Throughout this summer I will meet with the telecommunications industry to discuss the implementation of the regulations. I will also seek to gauge to what degree the regulations will influence the future direction of mobile phone mast technology in Scotland.
"We have sought to achieve a balance between differing viewpoints on the issue of planning controls on mobile phone masts.
"We have gone a long way towards adopting the recommendations of the Transport and Environment Committee but it is also important that telecommunications companies can still develop their networks and continue to serve the growing demands of customers.
"We will no longer allow the mobile phone industry to continue unfettered, peppering neighbourhoods with masts, but we recognise that to require planning applications for every antenna would risk clogging up the planning system.
"Many people expressed concerns about masts being placed close to schools. These new regulations will require companies to seek full planning permission for any plan to site a mast on ground near a school.
A full programme of monitoring those masts already in place is now underway.
"We have taken account of public concern and we have moved to allay those concerns. This is devolved Government in action."
BACKGROUND
A brief summary of the regulation follows:
1. Ground based masts:
Current arrangements -
- Masts over 15 metres in height require planning permission;
- Masts less than 15 metres in height are permitted development (i.e. operators do not need to apply for planning permission).
Future arrangements -
- All ground based masts will require planning permission.
2. Masts on buildings:
Current arrangements -
- Apparatus projecting up to 10 metres above a building over 30 metres high is permitted development;
- Apparatus projecting up to 8 metres above a building between 15 and 30 metres high is permitted development;
- Apparatus projecting up to 6 metres above a building under 15 metres high that does not include a dwelling is permitted development.
NB There is no limit to the number of pieces of apparatus allowed on a building under permitted development rights.
Future arrangements -
- On buildings over 15 metres high, only 8 antennas will be permitted development and no apparatus must be more that 4 metres high;
- On buildings under 15 metres high, only 4 antennas up to 0.9 metres, or 8 antennas up to 0.5 metres will be permitted development.
3. Equipment housing:
Current arrangements -
- Equipment housing not exceeding 4 metres in height or 200 cubic metres is permitted development, whether on the ground or on a building.
Future arrangements -
- The qualifying dimensions for permitted development will be reduced to:
- 3 metres in height and 90 cubic metres in the case of ground based installations; and
- 3 metres in height and 30 cubic metres in the case of installations on buildings.
4. Conservation areas and national scenic areas:
Current arrangements -
- The range of permitted development described above is severely restricted in conservation areas and national scenic areas.
Future arrangements -
- Permitted development rights will be withdrawn completely in these areas, and also in natural heritage areas, historic garden or designed landscape, site of special scientific interest, European site or, category A listed buildings and their settings and scheduled ancient monuments and their settings.
5. The 179 responses received during the consultation process are available for inspection at the Scottish Executive library. For an appointment contact 0131 244 4552. An overview of the comments received, along with the Executive's response to them will be published shortly.
News Release: SE1534/2001
25 Jun 2001