84ft phone mast approved for Dudley site, despite houses nearby

Carl Mellor, head of planning at Dudley Council, has granted approval for the 'telecommunications development' on a grassed area outside Dudley Innovation Centre, on the Pensnett Trading Estate in Kingswinford.

The plans also include six antennae, two satellite dishes, as well as the associated radio units and equipment cabinets, inside a fenced compound. The applicant said it was necessary to provide 5G mobile telephone coverage.

Planning officer Samuel Everton said the nearest residential properties were about 75 yards away in Prosper Meadow.

 "As such, it is considered that the proposed mast would not have a significant detrimental impact on the character and form of the area," he said.

"It is acknowledged that residents at Prosper Meadow would be able to view the upper parts of the mast from their properties. However, a balance needs to be struck between providing the increase capacity for the mobile technology in such residential areas and protecting the impact on residential amenity."

Mr Everton said while the mast was considered high, this was necessary to provide appropriate coverage for the area. 

"The proposed site represents the best visual solution in this instance to mitigate the impact on surrounding residential properties in the wider area," said Mr Everton.

"Mobile phone masts are now a common feature of the street scene not just across the Dudley borough, but across the UK. Taking all this into account, it is considered on balance, that there are insufficient grounds to warrant a refusal of this mast on visual amenity grounds."