Rejection of phone mast ‘is victory for common sense’
PLANS for a 20-metre high mobile phone mast near a busy supermarket have been thrown out on appeal.
Stockport council rejected proposals for a new mast on the pavement outside Aldi, in Cheadle Heath, last year citing the ‘significant adverse impact’ on the character and appearance of the area.
Clarke Telecom appealed against the decision on the grounds it was the only place it could replicate existing 2G, 3G and 4G coverage – while also bringing 5G to the area.
However the Planning Inspectorate has rejected the claims, finding that the overall harm was ‘considerable’ and not outweighed by the ‘moderate benefits’ the mast would bring.
The ruling has been hailed as ‘a victory for common sense’ by Cheadle Heath councillor Sheila Bailey.
She said: “Obviously we are all very pleased about it because of the impact it would have had on the local shopping centre and street-scene. The concerns of local residents who live nearby have been taken into account, and that’s a victory for common sense, I think.”
She did, however, agree with inspector Rachel Walmsley’s finding that there was a ‘need for high quality communications infrastructure’ in the area.
“I think we also need to make the point that we are not opposed to these masts and understand people want improved coverage,” said Coun Bailey, who understands plans for a mast at Edgeley Fold have now been dropped.
“We have suggested to both these companies some alternative sites to consider, which would not have that kind of impact.
“They can’t just come along and put in planning appeals and expect that it will be plain sailing, because some of the locations are not acceptable to us or residents.”
Clarke Telecom – backed by Telefonica and Cornerstone – launched its appeal in December 2020.
The infrastructure giant argued the height of the mast was a ‘technical requirement’ needed to replicate the existing 2G, 3G and 4G service as well as provide new 5G coverage.
It also rejected alternative sites suggested by the council ‘within or adjacent to’ Morrisons’ service yard, as well as land off Hoylake Road.
In the case of the service yard itself, the firm said the lower ground and trees would ‘detrimentally impact the operation of the lower 5G antennas, the whole raison d’etre for the new site’.
It also claimed there was not sufficient space as the area was in ‘constant use’ for deliveries.
The adjacent land owned by Network Rail was ruled out due to an embargo on 900 MHz frequencies – said to be vital for ‘significantly improved’ 3G indoor coverage and ‘much better’ 4G coverage.
And in respect of the site at Hoylake Road, Clarke Telecoms argued the new mast was likely to cause ‘annoyance or nuisance’ to nearby residents – thereby breaching a covenant on the land.
But planning inspector Ms Walmsley – acting on behalf of the secretary of state – disagreed.
She found that there was ‘no evidence’ to suggest the loss of two or three parking spaces would have a material effect on Morrisons’ operations – or indeed that the spaces could not be relocated on site.
“Whilst I appreciate that the yard needs to be kept free from obstruction, there is nothing in the evidence to suggest that a mast would occupy an area that would hinder service yard operations,” she noted in her decision letter.
She added that the mast would be ‘better assimilated into the more industrial landscape’ of the Network Rail land and that a ‘taller and bulkier’ structure could overcome constraints.
Ms Walmsley also found that a mast at Hoylake Road ‘would not be unduly dominant’ to the point of being harmful to residents given the distance of the plot from the surrounding houses.