Guidance Note 4

Television Satellite Antennae

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INTRODUCTION

1. This Guidance Note states the Council’s broad policy on the siting of antennae dishes.  The Council recognises that modern television reception and telecommunications requires such apparatus, but its uncontrolled proliferation, particularly in high amenity residential neighbourhoods, Conservation Areas (including Townscape Protection Areas) would be very detrimental to visual amenity.  Whilst each planning application will be dealt with on its own merits, it is incumbent upon the Council as Planning Authority to establish a broad basis of control over where and what kind of apparatus will and will not be permitted in the public interest.

2. Planning permission will normally be granted if the guidelines in the section below are followed.  Occasionally, it may be necessary to limit the duration of planning permission if the antenna dish is to be installed conspicuously.  

 

CURRENT LEGISLATION

Private Users: Dwelling Houses (not including flats)

3. Under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order, 1992, a satellite antenna (but not a terrestrial microwave antenna) erected on a dwellinghouse or within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse is “permitted development” and does NOT require planning permission as long as:

a. there is only one dish per house;

b. the maximum dimension does not exceed 90cm, including supporting structure but excluding the projecting feed element;

c. the highest part of the antenna does not project above the highest part of the roof on which it would be installed; 

d. if within a Conservation Area, the antenna does not  project beyond the forward most wall of the dwellinghouse, fronting onto a road; and

so far as is practicable, the antenna shall be sited to minimise its effect on the visual appearance of the building or structure on which it is installed.

 

Private Users : Other Buildings (e.g. flats or commercial premises)

4. Under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, satellite and terrestrial microwave antennae are “permitted development” on buildings other than dwellinghouses and DO NOT require planning permission as long as:

a. there are no more than two dishes;

b. the site is not within a Conservation Area;

c. a satellite antenna dish does not exceed 90cms in any dimensions, including the supporting structure but excluding the projecting feed element;

d. a terrestrial microwave antenna dish must not exceed 1.3 metres in any dimension;

e. the overall height of a terrestrial microwave antenna dish and support adds no more than 3 metres to the overall height of the building; and

f. so far as is practicable, the antenna shall be sited to minimise its effect on the building or structure on which it is installed.

5. When the antenna is no longer needed for reception, it shall be removed from the building.

6. N.B Although no planning permission is required in the above mentioned cases, great care should be exercised in siting the apparatus.  Ideally, the advice given in the following sections should be followed.

 

GUIDELINES

7. If a proposal does not fall within one of the above “permitted development” categories, planning permission is required before the apparatus is installed.  Applications will be considered according to the following guidelines:-

8. Dimensions and Colour

Antennae dishes should:-

a. be no larger than 90 centimetres in diameter; and

b. wherever possible be in an inconspicuous colour,  closely related to the proposed site’s surroundings.

9. Antennae mountings should:-

a. be as unobtrusive as possible; and

b. be of the same colour as the dish.

10. Siting - In ALL cases the visual impact on the site and on neighbouring properties and windows will be taken into account.  Some form of screening to the east, north and west may be required to reduce the visual impact on neighbours or the public.

11. Preferred locations (although the Council will require to be convinced that a rear location is impractical before any other location will be considered) :-

a. rear garden gound;

b. rear or side walls of a house, extension, garage, shed or outbuilding;

c. a roof of a garage, single storey house extension,  shed or outbuilding; and

d. rear or side pitched roofs.

12. In these cases the dish should:-

a. be largely screened or out of sight from a public  place; and

b. be of a close colour match to the existing building  to reduce obtrusiveness.

13. The dish should not:-

a. project beyond the extremities of a wall, if wall mounted; and

b. project above the ridgeline or forward of any wall if on the roof of a dwellinghouse.

14. Locations which will not normally be permitted:-

a. a roof where the dish is visible from a public place;

b. a wall of a dwellinghouse or other building facing a road; and

c. formal garden ground facing a road unless wholly screened from public view.

15. On any existing building containing more than four residential units, a communal satellite television reception device should be installed rather than individual dishes. In all new residential areas, communal satellite television reception devices shall be sought on all buildings containing more than four residential units.

16. Proposals for antennae on Listed Buildings, in Conservation Areas and Townscape Protection Areas will normally only be acceptable where they are effectively screened from public view and the amenity of the Conservation Area is not adversely affected. Antennae will not be acceptable where the architectural or historic character of the building or its setting is likely to be adversely affected.  Actual fixing to the walls or roof of a listed building will not be acceptable.  Both planning permission and Listed Building Consent are required.

 

MAKING A PLANNING APPLICATION

17. Planning applications are made on forms available from the Planning Office.  Plans required include:-

a. a location Plan, showing where the site is;

b. a block or site plan, showing where on the site the apparatus is to be located;

c. drawings or photographs of the apparatus to be installed; and

d. if the apparatus is to be installed on a building,  plans or photographs showing the exact position, height etc.  

18. Further information is contained on the forms.  A fee is payable.

19. A Building Warrant may be necessary for certain installations.  Please consult the Building Control Service.

 

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact :

 

The Planning Office, Development Quality Section,

The Triangle,

Kirkintilloch Road,

Bishopbriggs G64 2TR

Tel: 0141 578 8000

 

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