Download Banff And Buchan Area Committee

Meeting Title:
Banff And Buchan Area
Committee
Meeting Date:
16/08/2005
Meeting Time:
10:15:00
Arrangements:
Room 1 (ground floor),
Dalrymple Hall,
Fraserburgh
Agenda Item Number:
8J
Agenda Item Title:
Planning Application
Reference No
BB/APP/2005/1401 Full Planning Permission
for Erection of 62M
Lattice Communication
Tower at Mormond Hill
Teleport, Mormond Hill,
Fraserburgh
Item Description:
Report from Head of
Planning and Building
Control
Planning App Ref No(s):
BB/APP/2005/1401
Agenda Item Import:
Item No.
Page No. 1
Banff & Buchan Area Committee Report – 16/08/2005
Reference No: BB/ APP/2005/1401
Full Planning Permission for Erection of 62M Lattice Communication Tower at Mormond Hill Teleport, Mormond Hill, Fraserburgh
Applicant: Stratos Global, Aberdeen Teleport, Exhibition Avenue, Bridge Of Don, Aberdeen
Grid Ref:
398263.1 857047.2
Ward No. and Name:
EW12 Buchan North East
Application Type:
Full Planning Permission
Representations:
0
Consultations:
9
Relevant Proposals Map
Statutory Local Plan
Designations:
Countryside Areas
Finalised Aberdeenshire Local Plan
Telecommunications Masts
Complies with Development
Statutory Structure Plan
Yes
Plan:
Statutory Local Plan
Yes
Finalised Aberdeenshire Local Plans
Yes
Main Recommendation:
Approve
1. Reason for Report
1.1 This report relates to a planning application which is considered to raise issues of local significance and therefore requires to be determined by
the Area Committee.
2. Background and Proposal
The proposal is for the erection of a 62 metre high lattice communication tower within an existing communications centre at the top of Mormond
Hill. This site contains a number of large 18 metre square dishes which form the most prominent telecommunications features on Mormond Hill
however there are also several masts which are generally around 30 metres in height. The proposal would involve the removal of two of the large
square dishes.
The main planning issues are:
· the principle of the development;
· the visual impact of the development.
3. Representations
3.1 There have been no representations.
4. Consultations
No adverse comments have been received as a result of the consultations carried out with the Head of Environmental Health, British Airports
Authority, National Air Traffic Service and the Defence Estates.
The Civil Aviation Authority refer to the planning circular which requires to be complied with in determining this application.
The comments of the Meteorological Office are awaited.
5. Relevant Planning Policies
5.1 Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Structure Plan 2001-2016 (NEST)
Policy 4: Telecommunications
5.2 Banff & Buchan District Local Plan 1988
Land Use Policy 13: Countryside Areas
5.3 Finalised Aberdeenshire Local Plan
Policy Inf/9: Telecommunications Masts
Policy Gen/2: The Layout, Siting and Design of New Development
5.4 The aim of the above policies is to ensure that telecommunications masts and apparatus can be created without harming the environment and
the public.
5.5 On the 28th August 2003, the Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee agreed that, subject to certain limitations from 1st October 2003, the
Aberdeenshire Local Plan as a whole shall be used as the leading local plan consideration (in support of the current structure plan) in the
determination of all planning applications whenever they were submitted. There are no limitations relevant to this particular application.
5.6 Some policies and proposals in the Finalised Aberdeenshire Local Plan are subject to formal objection. Summaries of each objection and the
Council’ s initial (and in some cases further) response thereto are available in the Area Manager’s office.
5.7 In the circumstances of this case, the objections are not of sufficient significance to undermine the validity of the policy/proposal or to warrant
undue delay in coming to a decision on the issue.
5.8 In relation to SPP15, the Infrastructure Services Committee on 12th May 2005 agreed that the provisions of SPP15 do not alter the status of the
Structure Plan or the Emerging Local Plan as the most up to date and relevant statements of Council policy, which will remain as the primary
considerations in the determining of planning applications.
6. Discussion
Mormond Hill is a prominent feature in the Buchan Landscape which has made it suitable to telecommunication operators however in order to
minimise the impact of masts and dishes on the landscape these have been restricted to an area around the summit of Mormond Hill itself.
The current proposal lies within this summit however given that it would be significantly higher than nearby masts it would be more prominent.
Nevertheless the proposal would also necessitate the removal of two 18 metre by 18 metre dishes.
It is therefore considered that the relatively slender nature of this lattice tower would have significantly less impact on the landscape than the two
dishes it would replace. Furthermore the lattice tower could ensure that mast sharing is an option in the future.
As such the proposal complies with the policies of the Council and also complies with that part of Scottish Planning Policy 15 (Planning for Rural
Development) which is generally supportive of appropriate economic development and therefore approval is recommended.
7. Area Implications
7.1 The proposal complies with the environmental objectives of the Banff and Buchan Area Plan (Objective 4).
8. Financial Implications
8.1 None
9. Sustainability Implications
9.1 No separate consideration of the current proposal’s degree of sustainability is required as the concept is implicit to and wholly integral with the
planning process against the policies of which it has been measured.
10. Breaches, Departures, Notifications and Referrals
10.1 Statutory Structure Plan Departures
There are no Structure Plan departures.
10.2 Statutory Local Plan Departures
There are no Local Plan departures.
10.3 Finalised Aberdeenshire Local Plan Breaches
There are no Finalised Aberdeenshire Local Plan breaches.
10.4 The application is not a Departure from the Statutory Local Plan or Structure Plan and no departure procedures apply.
10.5 The application is not considered to be a significant departure from the Statutory Structure Plan and could be granted planning permission
without the Planning Authority first notifying Scottish Ministers together with their comments on any representations.
10.6 The application would not have to be referred to the Infrastructure Services Committee in the event of the Area Committee wishing to grant
permission for the application.
11. Recommendation
11.1 That subject to the comments of the Meteorological Office that it be delegated to the Head of Planning and Building Control to GRANT Full
Planning Permission subject to the following conditions:1. That the development hereby granted shall be begun on or before the expiration of five years beginning with the date on which the planning
permission is granted or deemed to have been granted.
Reason: Pursuant to Sections 58 and 59 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.
2. That when the land ceases to be used for the purposes hereby approved the telecommunications mast shall be removed and the site restored to
its original conditions or such conditions as may be agreed in writing with this Council as Planning Authority.
Reason: In the interests of amenity and good planning.
p.p Head of Planning & Building Control
Author of Report: Douglas Russell DR2/
10-Aug-05