Council approves plans for new 20-metre-high 5G mast in Sunderland to 'improve coverage'

Plans for a towering 20-metre-high mast to boost 5G connectivity in Sunderland have been given the go-ahead by council chiefs. The city's planning department has approved an application for the structure at Anthony Road in St Chad's ward, adjacent to the former Farringdon Social Club site which has recently been transformed into business units.

Cornerstone Telecommunications submitted plans earlier this year to erect a 20-metre monopole complete with antennas and other equipment near the shopping centre's car park. A statement accompanying the application explained that a new site was needed as the existing telecoms site serving the area couldn't accommodate upgraded equipment due to technical constraints.

The Anthony Road site was proposed as the most viable solution to meet coverage demand, with the development aiming to provide improved coverage for two operators in the surrounding area. It was also highlighted that a simple design solution was being proposed to minimise visual impact and prevent harm to the local environment.

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After assessing the application against planning policies, Sunderland City Council's planning department gave it the green light on September 6, 2024.

During a council consultation on the plan, Sunderland City Council's environmental health team raised no concerns. The council planners noted in their decision report that the "area is relatively open" and "relatively free from street furniture such as lampposts, telegraph poles and street signage".

They acknowledged that "given the characteristics of the site, it is accepted that the proposed apparatus will be a noticeable feature in the locality, but it is set away from the main estate road (Allendale Road) and the nearest dwellings".

The council decision report further added: "Although set within an open wedge, the apparatus will, to an extent, be screened in approaching views by tree belts (north along Allendale Road) and existing buildings (south along Allendale Road and from Anthony Road and Archer Road), reducing its visual impact to a degree.

"]It is therefore considered that the apparatus would not cause unacceptable harm to the visual amenity of the locality and would not result in any unacceptable impacts on the amenity of nearby properties".

A supporting statement from the applicants, submitted earlier this year, stated that the height of the proposed structure was "necessary as the site is proposed to provide 5G services". They also added that the development would "maintain and improve upon [the] existing network coverage pattern and provide new 5G services to this area of Sunderland".

The statement further explained: "5G uses higher frequencies which do not propagate through material and potential obstructions as well as lower frequencies (such as 4G), thus there is a need to ensure that antennas are able to over-sail surrounding buildings and trees, enabling the required coverage to reach the required extent of the target area."

"A monopole at 20m ensures that this is achieved."

The applicants also justified the height of the installation, stating it was necessary to "accommodate multiple technologies in one installation", which are "stacked on top of each other".

For more details on the plan or council decision, visit Sunderland City Council's planning portal website and search reference: 24/01439/TEX.