New telecommunications mast proposed for Lisnagra forest at Muff
Three seeks to improve 3G, 4G and 5G voice and data services in Muff and its surrounding area
A company working on behalf of mobile phone operator Three has applied for permission to erect a new telecommunications mast at Lisnagra, near Muff.
Phoenix Towers Ireland has lodged a planning application to install a 36-metre mast with antennas and transmission dishes aimed at improving 3G, 4G and 5G network coverage in Muff and its surrounding area.
The proposed development would be located within a Coillte-owned forest at Lisnagra, set approximately 35 metres back from the nearby local road (the L-7761-1). Coillte currently manages around 53 hectares of forest on the hillside above Muff village. The area comprises a mix of coniferous and broadleaf woodland, and the proposed mast would be situated within an established commercial forestry made up mainly of Sitka spruce.
In addition to the mast, the development would include antennas, transmission dishes, and equipment cabinets, all contained within a ‘relatively compact’ compound fenced off with a 2.4-metre-high palisade.
A cover letter accompanying the application states that the proposed site is not near any protected structures or listed monuments, and that an environmental impact assessment is not required as the development lies outside any designated conservation areas associated with Lough Foyle or Lough Swilly.
A visual impact appraisal carried out by consultants on behalf of the applicant assessed views from several points around the site. It found that existing trees would screen most of the structure, apart from the upper section of the tower, which would rise above the treeline and remain visible.
The consultants concluded that the visual impact would be slight and within acceptable limits, given the anticipated benefits of improved telecommunications in the area. They also recommended the permanent retention of forest around the tower as a mitigation measure.
The applicant says the new tower will significantly extend and improve voice and data coverage across the wider Muff area - a well-known telecommunications blackspot where homes and businesses often rely on signals from UK operators. The mast would also provide co-location space for future technology upgrades, adding further capacity for mobile broadband services in the district.
According to the applicant, the development is exempt from a contribution levy as Donegal County Council’s Development Contribution Scheme does not include a specific category for telecommunications infrastructure.
The planning application was submitted at the end of September. Public submissions are open until 2 November, and the council’s planning department is expected to make a decision by the end of November.