Satellite Dishes and Aerials

TV and RADIO AERIALS, SATELLITE DISHES

Guidance on installations

Advice on positioning your antenna

When installing a dish or other antenna, you must position it in such a way so that its effect on the outside appearance of the building is reduced as far as possible.

You must also remove it when you no longer need it.

What you need to consider

If an antenna is not positioned in the most appropriate place, it can be more noticeable or (depending on its colour and appearance) stand out from its background.

Remember, you are responsible for:

• choosing the type of antenna; and
• positioning the antenna on the building or in the garden.

When deciding on an antenna and where to position it, you should take account of its effect on neighbours, the public and the environment. The retailer or installer may be able to give you advice on this. If there is any doubt, you should contact your local planning department.

Things to think about

The colour of dish antennas can be important. For example, a white dish may blend in with a white background but may be more obvious against a darker background, such as brick or stone. The materials or the design can also affect how suitable a particular antenna is. For example, a mesh or transparent dish may be less obvious than a solid one.

One of the most important things you should consider is where to position the antenna on the property. Although it is important to make sure your antenna provides reasonable reception, it is also important to consider how your antenna looks.

• An antenna mounted on the roof will be less noticeable than one mounted on a wall.
• Antennas on a wall at the back of the building will usually be less noticeable than on the front of the building.
• Antennas mounted close to the ground in the back garden will be less noticeable to neighbours than ones mounted on poles;
• Antennas hidden behind a parapet or a chimney stack may be less noticeable than one mounted on the wall.

If you position your antenna badly

If your local planning department thinks your antenna is in an unsuitable position and could reasonably be moved to make it less noticeable, they may ask you to move it (at your own expense). You would not have to apply for planning permission.

If you refuse to do this, your local planning department may:

• demand that you apply for planning permission (for which you must pay a fee) because the antenna's effect on the outside appearance of the building has not been reduced as far as possible; or
• send you an enforcement notice, demanding that you move the antenna.

You can appeal if the planning department refuses your application for planning permission or sends you an enforcement notice. You may want to appeal if you think the antenna is in a suitable position or because it would cost you an unreasonable amount of money to move it.

It is an offence not to follow an enforcement notice. You may have to pay a fine unless you have successfully appealed against the notice.

If the planning department asks you to move an antenna they should use these guidelines to show, on a diagram, what reasonable measures you can take. The council cannot use these guidelines to stop you from installing an antenna.

You should remove any antenna you no longer need.

The Communities and Local Government's 'A Householders planning guide for satellite dishes can be opened from this link http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/householdersguideantennas

Planning advice & guidance