Permission for telecoms mast in Ballagh quashed

Planning permission for a 24m lattice telecommunications mast in Ballaghaderreen has been overturned by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

In October of last year, Roscommon County Council granted permission to Towercom Limited for the development, which included the removal of the existing 15m lattice telecommunications structure, at the Eir Exchange, Circular Rd, Ballaghaderreen.

Planning permission was granted subject to eight conditions, including that sound pressure levels generated by the development should not exceed background levels.

This application superseded an earlier planning permission granted in 2021 for a 20m lattice structure and associated equipment at the same site.

This planning permission was appealed in November 2024 by the Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), and this permission was overturned on July 23rd.

As part of its objection, FIE raised a concern that the required level of technical justification, including an assessment of alternative sites, had not been completed as part of the application.

It stated there was an existing ESB facility in the immediate vicinity of the appeal site which could potentially be used by the intended telecoms operator, Vodafone, and that it had not been sufficiently demonstrated that this structure cannot provide the required 5G services sought by the developer.

Following a site inspection in March of this year, the inspector found that the proposed development would not be visually obtrusive or seriously injurious to the visual amenity of the area.

It concluded that the development was in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, and recommended that planning permission be granted.

According to an addendum report, the board sought further information from Towercom Ltd including demonstration of engagement with ESB Telecoms on using the existing telecommunications structure at the nearby ESB Compound in Ballaghaderreen and technical details as to why it was not possible to co-locate there.

In its order the board said that “having regard to the lack of demonstrated engagement with ESB Telecoms”, it had not been demonstrated that the proposed development would accord with the ‘Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures Guidelines for Planning Authorities’.

The development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the board concluded.