What are the main issues in deciding on an application for this type of development?
The Council must take into account policies in the Unitary Development Plan and national guidance contained within Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications. National and local policy suggests that the Government is committed to providing mobile phone networks but that their impact on the local amenity must be limited. As such operators are encouraged where possible to share existing masts with other operators so that new masts are less necessary.