5G Mast Rejected on Merseyside

Wirral Council’s planning officers reject Three UK's applications to build a 5G mast in the Merseyside area.

19:00 25 August 2021

Three UK's application to build a 5G mast in one part of Merseyside has been rejected by Wirral planning officers who said that the 20-metre tall structure's potential economic benefits do not outweigh the visual harm it would cause. 

 

The planning document reads: “Mobile phone base stations operate on a low power and accordingly base stations therefore need to be located in the areas they are required to serve.

 

“Increasingly, people are also using their mobiles in their homes and this means we need to position base stations in, or close to, residential areas.

 

”A council planning document stated: “[The plan] would be unduly prominent in the streetscene, leading to a detrimental effect on visual amenity and the character of the area.

 

“Having regard to the limited justification put forward for the location of the development, the economic and social benefits of improved mobile connectivity are outweighed in this instance by the harm to amenity arising from the location of the mast.”

 

“The proposed development, by virtue of its siting and appearance in close proximity to the nearest residential dwelling houses, would be unduly prominent and oppressive when viewed from those dwelling houses, to the detriment of the amenity that occupiers should normally expect to enjoy.”

 

The application was previously met by strong opposition from residents. Of the 96 nearby properties consulted, only 10 were in favour of the plan.