Plan for 20 Metre High Mast in Greenford Blocked
Planning inspector dismisses appeal after Ealing Council refused permission
Residents of Whitton Drive and Whitton Avenue East in Greenford are celebrating after a proposal to build a 20 metre high telecommunications mast was blocked.
The applicant was proposing to remove an existing mast at the site and replace it with the new mast with 5G capability and cabinet units and bollards at the base as well as removing a tree.
Ealing Council had already refused permission last August for the mast to be built at the junction of the two roads but the applicant appealed and the case was referred to the Planning Inspectorate.
The inspectors concurred with the council planners’ decision and dismissed the appeal on the basis of the appearance of the mast. It is thought that this could set a significant precedent as most roadside masts had previously been given approval.
The inspectors report states, “The proposed monopole would rise significantly above the existing street trees and would be roughly twice as high as the surrounding two storey dwellings. Existing vertical structures nearby, such as street lights and electricity poles would be dwarfed by the height of the monopole and appear disproportionate relative to its dominant scale. The prominence of the monopole would be accentuated by its thickness while the top half of the installation would be conspicuous by the exposed antennae giving it a top-heavy appearance above the adjacent tree canopies.”
It was concluded that this would be “a jarring and incongruous presence on the verdant setting of the landscaped corridor and the surrounding built environment” and “would appear unacceptably imposing from nearby residential properties and cause harm to their outlook.”
The report acknowledged the need for the build out for telecommunications infrastructure but said that the applicant had not shown they had given significant consideration to alternative sites.
5G operates across multiple spectrums and therefore requires additional antennas and new equipment cabinets. The signals that are broadcast are more prone to the shadowing effect of adjacent buildings or structures, and also the effect of tree canopies reducing the broadcast range and effectiveness of the antennas. Consequently, the height of the 5G antennas needs to be raised meaning such high masts, dubbed ‘monster masts’ by objectors will become more common. The higher frequencies that 5G will use can provide more bandwidth and thus greater capacity but the signal will not travel as far as those of previous generations. This will mean that more of these masts will need to be built than were needed for previous generations of mobile technology.
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October 8, 2020
