66ft phone mast to be built at gateway to Dudley - just 150 yards from 12th century ruins
Plans to install a 66ft telephone mast at a main gateway to Dudley town centre, just 150 yards from a 12th century ruin, have been granted approval.
W H P Telecoms has been granted planning permission to install a 66ft single pole carrying six antennae, to 13in dishes, and two ground-level cabinets and ancillary development opposite St James's Priory.
The development will be on a large grass verge in front of the Broadway Halls care home, at the junction between Priory Road and Broadway.
The junction is the main gateway into Dudley town centre, when approaching from the north.
However, a report by planning officer James Mead said there had been no objections to the plan.
St James's Priory was founded in 1160 by Gervase Paganel as a dependency of the Cluniac Priory of Much Wenlock, and was built from limestone quarried from nearby Wren's Nest. It was closed in 1530 by Henry VIII.
It is a Grade I listed monument.
Mr Mead said there was a national requirement to upgrade the communications network to provide improved coverage and capacity, most notably in relation to 5G services.
He said the nature of the 5G network meant that the equipment, and the size of the poles in particular, was somewhat different to what had previously been required.
"Despite the mast being taller than that of masts that provided 3G and 4G coverage, 5G masts are now becoming commonplace across the borough and it is acknowledged that the siting of the mast is set back on a grass verge away from the highway and would be set against a backdrop of the four storey building and the trees either side where there is already significant street furniture in place," he said.
Mr Mead said Priory Park was an area of notable heritage sensitivity, including the monastic site.
"The development has been designed and sited to respect these assets, ensuring that key views, settings, and the overall character of the park are preserved," he said.
"By positioning the proposal away from the most sensitive areas and incorporating landscaping and design measures, any potential visual or contextual impact on Priory Park’s heritage features is minimised, maintaining the integrity and significance of this valued historic environment."
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