Introduction
The Advanced, high quality electronic communications infrastructure is an essential component of economic growth across Scotland. The Scottish Government's objective is to ensure that everyone can enjoy the same degree of access to high quality electronic communication opportunities, and that this should be achieved in a way that keeps the environmental impact of communications infrastructure to a minimum.
Telecommunications legislation and regulation is reserved to the UK Parliament and administered by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS). The physical development of networks including the siting and design of equipment is a matter for the planning system in Scotland.
Planning controls and policy relating to telecommunications infrastructure take into account the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP).
Policy Aims
The Scottish Planning Policy sets out the Government's planning policy on communications infrastructure, focusing in particular on siting and design.
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Equipment should be designed and positioned as sensitively as possible
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Options which should be considered include installation of smallest suitable equipment, concealing or disguising equipment, mast/site sharing and installation on buildings and existing structures.
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Applications should be accompanied by a declaration that the equipment and installation is designed to be in full compliance with the appropriate ICNIRP guidelines
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E missions of radiofrequency radiation are controlled and regulated under other legislation and it is therefore not necessary for planning authorities to treat radiofrequency radiation as a material consideration.
Publications
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