Policy information sourced from the Barking & Dagenham Local Plan

DMSI 9 Smart Utilities

1.

Development proposals should accord with the London Plan 2021 Policy SI 6: digital connectivity infrastructure, and will be supported where they directly provide, and demonstrate in their design the flexibility and adaptability to:

  • incorporate smart technologies and approaches that enable resources, space, systems and materials to be monitored and managed efficiently, as well as support the balancing of the grid
  • adopt protocols and systems that are compatible with others used in the borough and London, such as the local planning authorities, statutory undertakers, independent distribution network operators, social infrastructure providers and other organisations that are responsible for managing the public realm and supply vital services to the area, in order to allow for the safe sharing of information and efficient service provision
  • ensure access to wired and wireless broadband technologies delivering the highest speeds to provide a wide range of services
  • work proactively with the Council to plan, deliver and manage development that supports economic growth and responds to community needs
  • engage with telecommunications operators to communicate infrastructure needs and to provide joined-up and efficient services that respond to customer needs.

2.

Development should prioritise connecting to strategic area-wide telecommunications networks when and where they are available.

3.

Telecommunications development should be sited and designed to minimise the impact on the surrounding area. The adverse impacts of telecommunications development should be balanced with the benefits of infrastructure to economic growth and community need, and the Council will support high-quality telecommunications developments where:

  • the siting is not unacceptably intrusive in the street scene
  • the design is of a scale, height and appearance which does not disrupt the character of an area
  • the equipment has been designed to keep the size of the installation to the technical minimum and sited, so far as practicable, to minimise the impact on the environment
  • screening of equipment housing and other visually intrusive development associated with the proposal is provided
  • applicants have considered the need to include additional structural capacity to take account of the growing demands for network development, including that of other operators
  • the applicant has certified that the development will operate within the latest (ICNIRP) guidelines for public exposure.

For more information please see the Barking & Dagenham Local Plan