Council blocks 25m phone mast near Leeds leisure centre over visual impact fears
Leeds council blocks phone mast plans near leisure centre and playing fields
The installation of a “visually intrusive” mobile phone mast near community sports facilities has been blocked by the council.
Telecoms firm Cornerstone sought permission from Leeds City Council to fit a 25m mast at Gipton’s Fearnville Leisure Centre and playing fields.
The company said the mast was needed to replace an existing installation on top of nearby Oak Tree House and warned of a loss of 5G coverage.
The Oakwood Lane office block was set to be demolished to make way for flats under separate plans being considered by the council.
Cornerstone said its mast would be installed in a fenced compound and would not conflict with a planned redevelopment of the leisure centre facilities.
But council planners were concerned over the height and visual impact of the proposed mast on recreational land.
Their report said: “The proposal would therefore result in an incongruous and unduly prominent feature which would adversely affect the character and visual amenity of the surrounding area.
“Consequently, the siting and appearance of the proposed development are considered unacceptable.”
Cornerstone argued that the installation was designed to have a minimal impact on the surrounding area and would be partially screened by trees.
The mast needed to be 25 metres high to pick up 5G signals, which used higher frequencies than earlier technology.
Cornerstone’s planning report said: “A lower mast would materially obstruct the required signal propagation, resulting in coverage gaps and potentially requiring additional infrastructure elsewhere.”
The council’s highways department raised no objection to the application for prior approval planning permission. But permission was refused in a decision issued on October 9.
The council said work was due to start on a redevelopment of the Oakwood Lane leisure centre early next year.
Plans included a swimming pool, fitness studio and gym, along with an artificial pitch and children’s playing area outside.