Plan for 5G mast next to children's park in Brighton rejected

Three Mobile wanted to erect one mast on a patch of grass near homes in Southall Avenue and another next to a park in Whitehawk Way, both in Brighton, sparking outrage among residents on both estates.

But Brighton and Hove City Council has now confirmed neither build has been given the green light.

Map showing where the mast was planned for in Southall Avenue (Image: Google Maps/The Argus)

Head of planning at the city council, Liz Hobden, said of the Southall Avenue site: “The height of the mast would lead to it being highly visible, presenting as an incongruous and functional addition to the otherwise low density urban residential landscape, and the cabinetry would appear as unwelcome visual clutter dominating the open greenspace at the southern end of Southall Avenue.

“The proposed development would be poorly sited due to the impact on neighbours in terms of the mast's overbearing nature and the mast would become a prominent feature within the otherwise knitted residential character.”

And on the Whitehawk Way site she said: “The applicant has failed to evidence that the possibility of site-sharing in this area has been robustly considered and has failed to detail the assessment of buildings in the area.”

Map showing where the mast was planned for in Whitehawk Way (Image: Google Maps/The Argus)

The plans would have seen 15-metre high 5G telecommunication street poles with equipment cabinets installed at each site, should they have been permitted.

A consultation received 23 objections from the public, as well as a petition with 22 names against proposals, and just one comment in favour.

One person said of the Southall Avenue plans: “With all the development of high-rise buildings in the area, why can't the device be put on one of the buildings to reduce visual impact to residents?

A 5G mast similar to the ones planned by Three (Image: Submitted)

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“A 15-metre-high pole is going to tower over the houses and it is really close to the front of peoples' properties.

“I wouldn't like to open my front door and be confronted by a 15m telecommunications pole every day.”

The Argus contacted Three after the planning applications were rejected.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Brighton.

"We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and our planners determined that these sites were required to deliver it.

“Masts need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage. We carry out extensive searches and evaluate a wide range of options before submitting any planning applications.

"We will consider the reasons for refusal carefully to decide our next steps in bringing good connectivity to the area."

5G masts have caused controversy across the UK. In July, an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist was sentenced to a year in prison for plotting to destroy transmitters in Leeds.

Christine Grayson, 59, discussed “getting rid” of the mobile phone masts with expanding foam and angle grinders, after “becoming obsessed” with the belief that they were linked to the Covid-19 vaccine.