Plan for 'visually intrusive' phone mast blocked

The installation of a "visually intrusive" mobile phone mast near community sports facilities has been blocked by a council.

Telecoms firm Cornerstone sought permission from Leeds City Council to fit a 25m (82ft) 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.

Council planners raised concerns about the height and visual impact of the proposed mast on recreational land and said it would "result in an incongruous and unduly prominent feature which would adversely affect the character and visual amenity of the surrounding area."

Cornerstone said its mast would be installed in a fenced compound and would not conflict with a planned redevelopment of the leisure centre facilities on Oakwood Lane.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the work, due to start next year, includes a swimming pool and gym, along with an artificial pitch and children's playing area.

Cornerstone added in its report that if the mast was lower, it could result in signal coverage gaps "potentially requiring additional infrastructure elsewhere".

It was also designed to have a minimal impact on the surrounding area and would be partially screened by trees, the developer added.

The council's highways department raised no objection to the application for prior approval planning permission.

However, permission was refused in a decision issued last week.

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