Council 5G Mast Refused

Proposals to build a new 20-metre 5G phone mast in a Chester suburb have been rejected by city planners.

01:32 09 March 2023

CK Hutchison Networks' proposal to build a 20-metre phone mast at the junction of Victoria Crescent and Queen's Park Road in Handbridge has been thrown out by city planning officers. 

The local authority has rejected the plans after receiving scores of objections from residents mainly due to the chosen location and the size of the mast, with one saying it would be "visually repugnant monstrosity" while others say it would "completely dwarf" the local area. 

Meanwhile, the Conservation and Design Team at the council says the site was in a "very sensitive location". 

The planning officer reported the proposed mast "would be significantly taller and more prominent than these existing features and appear especially alien in this context".

The officer added: "It is considered that the benefits of extending the telecommunications network in the area are not sufficient to outweigh the demonstrable visual harm identified above from the siting and appearance of the proposal and would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area."