Minden Place Car Park, Minden Place, St. Helier

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A decision made (30.11.07) to approve the installation of 3 antennae, 1 dish and 3 equipment cabinets at MInden Place Car Park, Minden Place, St. Helier.

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2007-0322
Decision Summary Title:	Minden Place Car Park, Minden Place, St Helier			Date of Decision Summary:	30 November 2007
Decision Summary Author:	Kelly Johnson			Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written and Oral			Person Giving Oral Report:	Kelly Johnson
Written Report Title:	Minden Place Car Park, Minden Place, St Helier			Date of Written Report:	19 November 2007
Written Report Author:	Kelly Johnson			Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: S/2007/2320 Minden Place Car Park, Minden Place, St Helier Installation of 3 No. antennaes, 1 No. dish and 3 No. equipment cabinets.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the application, subject to the conditions specified in the report attached to this Ministerial Decision.
Reason(s) for Decision: Permission has been granted having taken into account the relevant policies of the approved Island Plan, together with other relevant policies and all other material considerations, including the consultations and representations received.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: Issue permit and notify other interested parties.
Signature:		Dir Initials	Position: Assistant Minister
Date Signed:		CEO Initials	Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed): 30 November 2007

Minden Place Car Park, Minden Place, St. Helier - approval

Planning and Environment Department

Report for Ministerial Meeting

Application Number

S/2007/2320

Site Address	Minden Place Car Park, Minden Place, St. Helier.

Applicant	Jersey Airtel Ltd

Description	Installation of 3 No. antennae, 1 No. dish & 3 No. equipment cabinets.

Type	Satellite Dishes/Comms Antenna

Date Validated	03/10/2007

Zones	Built-Up Area

Policies	NR12 - Telecommunications

Summary/

Conclusion

The proposal is to co-locate equipment on an existing roof top site.

There will be an increased visual impact by locating more antennae on this roof top, however the visual impact to the area will be less by co-locating the equipment on the same site, rather than locating it on another roof top.

(Worthwhile, when there is a conflicting balance of considerations, to play devil`s advocate, then give reasons for reaching recommendation.)

Officer

Recommendation

Approve with conditions

Site Description	The car park is located within the town centre. The top of the car park is exposed to the area and there are many public views to the site.

Relevant Planning History	S/2006/1423 Approval granted in August 2006 for 6no. antennae, 3no. dishes, 3no. cabinets and 6no. bollards for Cable and Wireless.

Existing use of Land/Buildings	Car park

Proposed use of Land/Buildings	Telecommunications

Consultations	(Delete as appropriate and summarise comments wherever possible) H&SS in their letter dated 10 October 2007 confirm that the pre-commissioning details are below the international guidelines, being the ICNIRP Radio Frequency Public Exposure Guidelines. A post-commissioning test is required to ensure the actual emissions are in line with the estimated. Condition recommended to this effect. All consultations are attached with the background papers

Summary of Representations	No letters of representations were received.

Planning Issues	Policy Considerations (What are the presumptions) In accordance with NR12, telecommunications development will normally be permitted where: (i) siting and design will not unreasonably affect the character and amenity of the area; (ii) all practicable possibilities of sharing facilities have been fully explored and found to be unfeasible or unacceptable by the Minister; (iii) there would be no unacceptable impact on residential amenity; (iv) the proposal is in accordance with other principles and policies of the Plan. Siting and Design The application proposes additional equipment on an existing roof top site. The proposed location is on the roof of the lift and stair well and will be visible from the immediate and wider area. The existing equipment has some visual impact on the surrounding area due to the exposed nature of the roof top. However the visual impact of the existing equipment has been significantly reduced by the painting of all the equipment white to match the existing building. The painting of the equipment assists in reducing visual impact by not drawing attention to the equipment. This means that the eye is not immediately drawn to a contrasting or shiny object and thus is not easily recognisable to the passer-by. A condition is recommended to ensue that all equipment is painted white. The proposal is to install additional equipment on this roof top site. Although there would be an increased visual impact, this impact will be less by co-locating the equipment on the same site, rather than locating it on another roof top. The applicant has revised the design of the equipment to improve the appearance. The antennae have been reduced from 6 to 3, albeit a larger size. The antennae have been moved closer to the supporting frame so as to reduce the mass and bulk of the installation and create a more slim-lined frame. This reduced bulk will assist in reducing the overall visual impact of the installation. Site Sharing The necessity of this site is to gain coverage and increased capacity to the St Helier town centre. This application is for site sharing, being the co-location of installations. The co-location of telecommunications on car parks are a preferred roof top option of the Planning Department due to their short term use and visual appearance. Therefore no other options in the area were considered before this application. Telecommunications are located at other car parks in the town centre, being Sand Street, Pier Road and Green Street. Given the acceptance of telecommunications at other car parks in the town centre and the previous approval of equipment at Minden Place car park, it would be unreasonable to refuse additional equipment on this co-location site. Residential Amenity There will be limited impact to residential amenity from this installation. The surrounding building contain residential units on upper floors, however none have views above the roof in direct line of the proposed installation. The visual impact is reduced by painting the equipment and there are no other impacts to residential amenity such as traffic, noise, pollution, light, overbearing, overshadowing or overlooking. Other Policies of the Plan The proposal is in accordance with the other policies of the Island Plan.

Officer Recommendation	Approve

Conditions/ Reasons	1. The antennae, dishes, equipment cabinets, gantry trays, brackets, and all supports hereby approved shall be painted white and permanently maintained in that condition unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Minister for Planning and Environment. 2. The development hereby permitted is temporary and shall cease on or before 12 months from the date of this permit and the land restored to its former condition unless the post commissioning test is completed and the relevant measurements are in accordance with the ICNIRP certificate submitted, to the satisfaction of the Minister for Planning and Environment. 3. The permission hereby granted is for a temporary period of 12 months in the first instance. In the event that the Minister for Health and Social Services, during that 12 month period, should change his policy on the safety of telecommunication installations to the effect that they constitute a danger to the public nearby, the Minister for Planning and Environment will review the permission and may require the installation to be removed within a period of 3 months of the Minister for Health and Social Service’s change of policy. Should the Minister for Health and Social Service’s policy not change within 12 months, this permission will have permanent effect. 4. The development hereby permitted is temporary and shall cease on or before 12 months from the date of this permit and the land restored to its former condition unless a programme of ongoing monitoring of the installation is submitted to and approved in writing by the Minister for Planning and Environment. The scheme shall include monitoring in accordance with the ICNIRP certificate provided, appropriate independent testing at 12 monthly intervals for the duration of the operation of the installation, and shall be funded by the operator.

Reasons	1. In order to safeguard the visual amenities of the area. 2. To retain control over the development in order to protect the amenities of the surrounding area. 3. To protect the interests of the general public. 4. To protect the interests of the general public.

Background Papers	1:2500 Location Plan H&SS letter dated 10 October 2007 Photomontage (Also include correspondence from Case Officer – Possibly [pre-application advice & any other relevant material)

Endorsed by:

Date: