13 February 2026
80, Ballagarey Road, Glen Vine, Isle Of Man, IM4 4ej
Appeal against the refusal for the Installation of 3 telegraph poles to provide fibre optic connectivity to 82, 80 Ballagarey Rd & 1, 3 Alexander Road.
Installation of 3 telegraph poles to provide fibre optic connectivity to 82, 80 Ballagarey Rd & 1, 3 Alexander Road.
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The original application for installing 3 telegraph poles was recommended for approval by the planning officer but unanimously refused by the Planning Committee on 26 August 2025 due to negative visual impact on the character of the street scene, contrary to GP2 b), c), h). The appellant argued the poles were necessary for fibre rollout, compliant with policies supporting telecom infrastructure like IP3, and cited precedents of approvals elsewhere. The council defended the refusal focusing on visual impact in an uncluttered bungalow estate and added concerns over residential amenity under GP2 g). The inspector, after a site visit, found significant harm to character and appearance from the tall poles in a pole-free suburban area with rural backdrop, and material harm to residents' outlook, outweighing public benefits of fibre for 4 properties despite national telecom priorities. The appeal was recommended for dismissal on 3 February 2026.
Precedent Value
Dismissal reinforces that telecom infrastructure must demonstrably balance IP3; in uncluttered low-rise residential areas with underground utilities nearby, visual/amenity harms can outweigh fibre benefits even for few properties. Applicants should prioritise undergrounding or shared infrastructure and provide robust site-specific visual evidence.
Inspector: Frances Mahoney MRTPI IHBC
