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Protecting the South Downs landscape in the digital age



Protecting the South Downs landscape in the digital age

December 20, 2021

The hills of the South Downs covered in a blanket of white snow

Key digital infrastructure will be improved in the National Park while minimising impact on the landscape.

Planning officers at the Authority have worked extensively with BT/EE to help upgrade internet coverage on the busy South Western Trains line between London and Portsmouth and Southampton as part of a wider government-supported project. Gaps in coverage meant that commuters could not access onboard WiFi at certain locations.

A collaborative, landscape-led approach has resulted in, as of mid-November, the approval of five of new masts, with three more still to be considered. The masts will also bring improved 4G coverage to those living and working near the masts.

Stella New, Senior Development Management Officer, said: “After a number of refused applications, the applicant sought to work collaboratively with officers, providing evidence to demonstrate in each case that the new sites chosen were the least harmful in landscape terms, and that any harmful impacts could be appropriately mitigated.  Mitigation measures secured have included the planting of locally native trees, scrub, and wildflower meadow to improve habitat and filter views.  Smaller ‘alpha’ poles have also been utilised to secure coverage in the more sensitive locations.

“The approach taken demonstrates that even proposals for utilitarian forms of development, such as telecoms masts, can harness a landscape-led approach to successfully gain planning consent in many cases.”

Norman Gillan, who acted as planning consultant for the applicant, said: “BT/EE deploy infrastructure and work across the UK and while the landscape bar may be set higher in the National Park than in other locations, we have been able to overcome this through excellent communication and cooperation with the Park’s planning officers.

“The certainty that this approach provides developers who often have a lot of speculative costs up front is invaluable. Passengers will soon notice the improvement to their W-Fi experience.”