Installation of 2 telegraph poles to provide fibre optic connectivity to 14-21 Princes Road

Why Was This Refused?

• ✓Unacceptable negative visual impact on the character of the street scene
• ✓Visually intrusive infrastructure in a sensitive residential setting
• ✓Failure to demonstrate strategic national need
• ✓Insufficient justification for not pursuing alternative options
• ✓Development contrary to General Policy 2b,c,g
• ✓Development contrary to Infrastructure Policy 3
• ✓character
• ✓amenity
• ✓scale
• ✓Residential amenity

The proposal is for the installation of 2 telegraph poles and associated cabling to provide fibre optic connectivity to 14–21 Princes Road. The site is within a residential street scene characterised by predominantly bungalows with some chalet bungalows, and with two-storey terrace properties fronting the site; Coronation Park playing fields are opposite the site. The decision found that, due to the poles’ height, size and scale, the development would cause negative visual impact and adversely affect the character of the street scene to an unacceptable degree. It also found the poles would introduce visually intrusive infrastructure into a sensitive residential setting, and that the application failed to demonstrate a strategic national need or adequately justify why alternatives were not pursued. The application was therefore refused as contrary to General Policy 2b,c,g and Infrastructure Policy 3.

The application was refused by the delegated Head of Development Management. The decision states that the proposed telegraph poles and cabling would have an unacceptable negative visual impact on the character of the residential street scene, and would introduce visually intrusive infrastructure into a sensitive setting. It also concludes that the application did not adequately demonstrate a strategic national need or explain why alternative options had not been pursued. The refusal is stated to be contrary to General Policy 2b,c,g and Infrastructure Policy 3.

Policies Assessed (2)

Planning History (9)

Documents (11)