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Our Ref: Planning Appeals Secretary Cabinet Office Government Offices Buck’s Road Douglas IM1 3PN Dear Sir/Madam, RE: Installation of Wooden Telegraph poles to provide fibre optic connectivity
Date 17/11/2025
The Department wishes to submit a rebuttal statement that sets out the position of the Department following two recent appeal decisions, that were upheld by the Minster, that are considered pertinent to the assessment of this appeal.
In planning applications referenced:
These applications were initially refused by the Planning committee and following an appeal were both subsequently recommended for refusal by the planning inspector and upheld on behalf of the Minister of DEFA.
For the purposes of this rebuttal statement, references used are from the paragraphs in the inspectors’ report from 25/90376/B, (which essentially echoes 25/90377/B) and attached to this statement.
Drawing parallels from those two applications noted above, an important observation is where there is an absence of existing wooden telegraph poles and their inherent overhead cabling within the street scene, their proposed introduction; “would materially reduce the high quality,
current open and uncluttered character and appearance”. (para 56.) of the street scene and: “the proposed poles and associated overhead cabling would be seen as particularly prominent and intrusive featuresthat would fail to integrate well with the surroundings”. (para57.)
In concluding on the visual impact upon the character and appearance of the area noting the above statements, the inspector noted in the last paragraph of para 57:
In essence the inspector has identified that where there is no prior existence of telegraph poles within the street scene or within the wider part of the estate as it was designed, the introduction of this form of infrastructure would be seen to be in conflict with Gp2b,c,g and IP3, as the proposals fail to ensure that new development respects the site and the surroundings.
It is further noted within the inspectors’ conclusion on the application that the balance of material planning issues and the weight given to those with implied emphasis being on the detrimental impacts on the character and appearance of the area which outweighs other issues:
Subsequently, the application was refused for the following reason:
“1. An attractive and defining characteristic of the Tromode estate is the absence of clutter in the street scene. In that context, the proposed telegraph poles and associated overhead cabling would be seen as incongruous and intrusive additions which would significantly detract from the established character and appearance of the area. That there might be additional costs associated with providing the fibre network below ground is insufficient reason in this instance to outweigh the material harm that I have identified. There would be conflict with General Policy 2b), c) and g) and Infrastructure Policy 3 in this regard, which together and among other things seek to ensure that new development respects the site and its surroundings”.
In support of a refusal recommendation to this application is attached a copy of the:
Yours sincerely,
Jason Singleton
MSc | MCD | MRTPI | AssocRICS Principal Planning Officer Planning & Building Control Directorate | (DEFA) Murray House • Mount Havelock • Douglas • Isle of Man • IM1 2SF
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