The application was reported to the Planning and Licensing Committee in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s constitution.

The application related to a permitted development proposal including antennas, other apparatus, supporting infrastructure and associated equipment cabinets by telecommunications code system operators (in this case Telefonica (known as O2) and Vodaphone). The cabinets would be sited at ground level, the antennas would be installed on the top of the car park building. The application followed a proposal for a ground based 20 metre tall mast and three cabinets on highway land nearby refused prior approval at the committee in January 2020. This application was deferred from the May committee at the applicant’s request to allow time for revision. This request was agreed subject to an extension of time.

The cabinets would be sited at ground level on a tarmacked area adjacent to the Coptfold Road elevation of the car park and its pedestrian entrance. Two equipment cabinets were proposed in a line backing on to the building, a third smaller cabinet would back on to the external flight of steps coming from the car park. The cabinets would be coloured Fir Green and be protected with three bollards.

The two proposed antennas would be mounted on a steel support structure affixed to the roof of the stair tower. The total height of the building at this point to the parapet was 21.4 metres.  The proposed two vertical antennas would have a height of 2.75 metres.  A transmission dish would be provided at a centre line of 23.15 above ground level and a small GPS module attached to the top of one antenna adding negligible extra height. Running between the roof mounted equipment and the ground based cabinets would be a 300mm wide cable tray running up the middle of the elevation of the stair tower.

The applicant had revised the proposal since submission. The revision related only to the roof mounted equipment which was now proposed to have an open topped GRP (glass reinforced plastic) box installed around it, referred to by the applicant as a ‘mock chimney’. This enclosure would be 2.1m x 1.5 and 3.0m tall, resulting in a total height above ground level of 24.40 metres This was shown on the drawings to have a ‘brick finish’, but further information had been sought to show how that would be achieved.

Like the last application, this development was a response to the forced removal of a base station from Ewing House, near Brentwood station, though unlike that one this proposal would provide a single replacement rather than requiring two sites serving the area – it was previously proposed to have one adjacent to this site and the other across the valley at Pastoral Way.

In view of the meeting having to take place via the internet, a statement submitted by the applicant’s agent, Mr Hafiz, was read aloud by the Chair.

Members were reminded that the application related only to the siting and appearance of the equipment and they expressed concern regarding the proposed height and visual blight they believed the equipment would cause.  They were also very concerned at the disruption and inconvenience the loss of signal would cause to mobile phone users and businesses in the vicinity.  However, planning regulations allow telecommunication code operators to erect and retain emergency masts for eighteen months to avoid a loss of service. Having considered the merits of the proposal, the committee came to the view that the harm was unacceptable.

Cllr Mynott MOVED and Cllr Morrissey SECONDED that the application be REFUSED and following a debate Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Fryd, Kerslake, Keeble, Morrissey, Mynott, and Mrs Tierney (6)

AGAINST: Cllrs Jakobsson, Laplain, McCheyne and Tanner (4)

ABSTAIN: Cllr Miss Sanders (1)

The application was REFUSED in accordance with the Planning Officer’s recommendation.

Cllr Mrs Fulcher declared a non-pecuniary interest by virtue of living in the vicinity of the application site and therefore took no part in the discussion or vote on this item.