Policy information sourced from the Woking Development Management Policies Development Plan Document (DPD)

DM22: Communications infrastructure

Proposals for new or upgraded telecommunications equipment and installations will be permitted provided that:

  1. the telecommunications equipment and installation is sited and designed so as to minimise impact on the visual amenity, character and appearance of the surrounding area;
  2. if on a building, apparatus and associated structures are sited and designed in order to minimise impact to the external appearance of the host building;
  3. opportunities to share masts or sites with other providers have been explored and rejected for good reason;
  4. where a new mast is proposed, there is no reasonable possibility of combining the proposal with an existing installation, or of erecting the apparatus on an existing building or structure; and
  5. the proposal conforms to the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, taking account where appropriate of the cumulative impact of all operators equipment located on the mast/site.

Proposals for domestic satellite receiving antennae will be permitted only where they do not have an adverse effect on the visual appearance of the building and the surrounding area and on the amenity of neighbouring properties. The shared use of antennae in blocks of flats and similar buildings will be encouraged.

Development proposals, including for homes, employment and main town centre uses, will be expected to support and help implement the aims and objectives of the ‘Superfast Surrey’ broadband initiative. On-site infrastructure should be provided, including open access ducting to industry standards, to enable all premises and homes to be directly served by the latest broadband technology, including fibre optic broadband technology. Exceptions will only be considered where it can be demonstrated by evidence that making such provision would render the development unviable.

For more information please see the Development Plan Document