PLANNING permission has been granted for a 5G mast in Church Langley.

In February 2022, Harlow Council refused planning permission for the mast on Church Langley Way at Ashworth Place (see news article below).

However, an appeal by the applicants to the Planning Inspectorate has been successful.

Amongst the reasons given to grantees permission are:

17. Although the proposed development would result in some harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area, it is necessary to balance these adverse effects against any benefits that may exist.
18. It has been highlighted that there is a particular need for proposed telecommunications equipment in the surrounding area in order to address existing shortfalls in network coverage. Therefore, the proposed development would generate benefits to residents and businesses in the form of increased availability and reliability of electronic communications. This approach is supported by the Framework, which at Paragraph 114 states that advanced, high quality and reliable communications infrastructure is essential for economic growth and social well-being.
19. In addition, the Framework also states that planning decisions should support the expansion of electronic communications networks. This includes next generation mobile technology.
20. Given the nature of the proposed development, the development would support the delivery of improved telecommunications infrastructure. This is a matter to which I ascribe a significant amount of weight.
21. Furthermore, it has also been demonstrated that there is a limited number of locations in the surrounding area that could accommodate the proposed development in a less harmful manner. Therefore, if the development will not come forward in this location, there is a reasonable likelihood that the aforementioned benefits would not be realised owing to the lack of reasonable alternatives. This would mean that such benefits would be lost.
22. In consequence, the proposed development would be in conformity with Policy IN5 of the Harlow Local Development Plan (2020). Amongst other matters, this seeks to ensure that appropriate evidence has been provided to show that opportunities have been explored to share existing masts or sites with other providers.

Church Langley councillors, Simon Carter, Andrew Johnson and Nicky Purse have written to Harlow MP Robert Halfon with a number of concerns.

They stated

The Inspector, Benjamin Clarke BA (Hons.) MSc MRTPI, failed to take into account various errors in the planning application, namely:

• The confusion as to where the application was being made, referring the ‘London Plan’ and quoting an incorrect post code for the location of the mast;
• Failing to consult widely enough where there are schools within 400 metres of the location of the mast, namely Henry Moore School which is only 200 metres away, contrary to the requirement of the NPPF;
• Failing to notice that the applicant lied in stating there were no schools in the location;
• Failing to notice the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment in the application;
• Failing to consider the absence of mast sharing or alternative sites, contrary to the NPPF.   There is, of course, the water tower which is host to a variety of aerials already, or the more suitable location of the Kao Enterprise Park, host to a growing number of small businesses where 5G might more essential;
• Failing to observe that Church Langley is already served by high speed broadband, meeting the test set out in para 114 of section 10 of the NPPF concerning high quality communications infrastructure.  There are no commercial premises in Church Langley and if there were, their communication needs are already met through high speed broadband running past their premises.
• Failing to highlight the benefit to domestic users of 5G over 4G networks and the need for additional 5G coverage in Church Langley over and above the existing 4G coverage and availability of high speed broadband;
• Failing to notice the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment in the applicatio