Scottish planning policy and practice

National Planning Policy Guideline 19 (NPPG19) sets out the Scottish Executive's planning policy for radio telecommunications. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that the infrastructure can be developed in a way which continues to provide Scotland with world class telecommunications services, while at the same time minimising the environmental impact of new or replacement equipment.

The Scottish Executive's planning policy enables the telecommunications industry to expand and diversify, but in a sensitive manner. This can be achieved without limiting the industry's operational or expansion plans which are essential to the global competitiveness of Scottish business. However, while additional economic and social benefits can only be achieved if the infrastructure is developed, including the networks or radio base stations, the industry has to devote greater attention to the siting and design of equipment.

These Guidelines have been prepared as part of the Executive's response to the inquiry by the Transport and Environment Committee of the Scottish Parliament into planning procedures for telecommunications development; and the report prepared by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) which considered the health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters.

The guidance is concerned primarily with:

• further growth of existing mobile telephone systems (including second generation or 2G)
• the introduction of the third generation of mobile telecommunications (known as 3G)
• fixed radio access telecommunication services

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2001/07/nppg19-telecoms/nppg-19