Removal of existing mast and remove/ relocate associated equipment cabinets, installation of a new 17.00m monopole supporting 6 no. antennas with a wrap around equipment cabinet at the base of the column,  installation of 3 no. new equipment cabinets and ancillary development thereto

The proposal related to a permitted development removal of an existing mast and remove/ relocate associated equipment cabinets as well as the installation of a new 17.00m monopole (which would be 2.3 metres higher) supporting 6 no. antennas with a wrap around equipment cabinet at the base of the column, installation of 4 no. new equipment cabinets and ancillary development thereto by a telecommunications code system operator (in this case Mobile Broadband Network Limited, i.e. EE and Three [H3G]).

The application site was located on a grass verge adjacent to the junction of Brentwood Road and Running Waters within the Metropolitan Green Belt. To the East were agricultural fields beyond a hedgerow. To the North and West was a residential area and The Pines scout camp. To the South was the Thorndon Park Conservation Area.

To be removed:

• 14.7 metre high mast
• 3no cabinets

To be repositioned:

• 1no cabinet

To be installed:

• 17 metre high monopole with wrap around cabinet and 6no antennas
• 4.no cabinets

Members were reminded that this was not a planning application as it related to a form of development that was permitted under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(England) Order 2015 (as amended) Schedule 2, Part 16 Class A – electronic communications code operators.  The prior approval of the Council was required for two issues – the siting and appearance of the development.

Cllr McCheyne MOVED and Cllr Jakobsson SECONDED that prior approval was not required for siting and appearance and following a discussion Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Bridge, Chilvers, Fryd, Haigh, Jakobsson, Keeble, Kerslake, McCheyne, Morrissey, Mynott, Tanner and Mrs Tierney (12)

AGAINST:  (0)

ABSTAIN (0)

It was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that prior approval was not required for siting and appearance.