Plans for 24m comms tower in Arklow quashed

Lodged by Towercom on behalf of Eircom Limited (t/a eir) in November 2022, the plans included the removal of an existing 12m lattice tower at the site – an Eir exchange located to the rear of Paramount Arcade – and the construction of a new 24m lattice telecommunications tower, together with its antennas, dishes, security fencing and associated telecommunications equipment.

The application was rejected by Wicklow County Council in January 2023, with the local authority raising several concerns about the site’s prominent location, its proximity to the River Walk, its visibility from Arklow Bridge and along the River Walk, the height of the proposed telecommunications structure and its “utilitarian appearance”.

Eircom Limited appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála the following month, with the telecommunications provider acknowledging that there would be an element of visual impact but adding that due to the “critical nature of the services to be provided”, the site was the “only realistic option available, and an optimum operational location for eir and Vodafone”.

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“It is submitted that the proposed structure will not create a significant harmful impact on the amenity of the area as stated within the refusal,” the appeal noted.

“Although taller than the existing telecommunications lattice structure and adjoining buildings, the new structure is designed to provide modern services using the latest technology. As a result, it must be taller than the existing structures around to ensure coverage and secure line of sight, which in turn enables other sites further away to benefit from using the technology gained from the exchange.

“Further, it is becoming apparent that some Councils are referring to the utilitarian appearance of the structure as a reason for its refusal. It is interesting to note that the meaning of utilitarian is based on the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people.

“Due to the nature of the telecommunication services, particularly 5G services within a populated area, it is a requirement to be within close proximity of the demand,” the appeal continues.

“The site is within an established communications exchange with associated utilities already in place, which enables sites further away to secure otherwise unavailable services.”

Having re-evaluated the planning application, a senior An Bord Pleanála inspector disagreed with Wicklow County Council’s decision, outlining how the benefits of “the enhancement of telecommunication services for Arklow and its environs” and “the locational advantages associated with the site outweigh the disadvantages associated with its visual impact”.

Recommending that conditional permission be granted, the inspector concluded that “the proposed development would be acceptable in this location and would not seriously injure the amenities of the area, and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable of the area”.

Dismissing their own inspector’s recommendation, An Bord Pleanála concurred with Wicklow County Council’s original assessment, rejected the appeal and reiterated concerns about the proposed development’s proximity to Arklow’s waterfront area and the resulting visual impact.

They added: “The development would be contrary to the provisions of the Wicklow County Council Development Plan 2022-2028 and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

They conceded that there was “some technical justifiction” for the proposed tower, but did not agree that the “locational advantages associated with the site would outweigh the disadvantage associated with the visual impact”.