The planning application by O2 for a 10m Mobile Phone Mast on land at Southern Water Reservoir in Islingword Road has been passed, on appeal.

It had been refused by Brighton and Hove's local planning officers, under delegated powers, in June 2011.

O2 appealed and the national Planning Inspectorate allowed it in March of this year. The Inspector said that, though there would be some detriment to the area, the need for the mast and the lack of any suitable alternative location outweighed any detriment or any perceived health risks.

O2 had already had an application for a 12.5m mast in the same area refused, under delegated powers, in October 2010, but it had not appealed against that decision.

In both cases, the matter had never been considered by the Planning Committee itself. Over 65 properties had been consulted in the vicinity.