Sunderland planners' verdict on 'eyesore' new 20-metre 5G phone mast that's 'too close to people's homes'

Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee, at a meeting this week, approved an application for a site off Essen Way near its roundabout junction with Tunstall Road.

Applicant EE Limited had applied for permission for “the removal of 1no. 15.2m monopole supporting 3no antennas and replacement with 1no. 20m-high monopole with wraparound cabinet, 9no. antennas, installation of 1no. cabinet, plus ancillary development.”

A design, access and supporting statement linked to the planning bid said “the existing site is required to be upgraded to meet the technical requirements to provide the area with improved and enhanced coverage and connectivity offering 5G to the surrounding area”.

Developers said the proposed site for the telecoms upgrade is in an “area characterised as predominantly residential” and while noting a “replacement monopole with a height increase will be required”, applicants said the “design has been carefully considered to be as minimal in terms of visual impact while achieving the technical requirements”.

It was also noted that “as Essen Way is a nominated B-class road (B1405), appropriate setbacks and landscape buffers exist providing separation from the adjoining residential properties” and that “proposed streetworks pole structure will be of a similar appearance to the existing street lighting columns in the area.”

The application was presented to Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee for decision on Monday (December 15, 2025) at City Hall.

Councillors were told the application was being considered by the committee due to a referral from St Michael’s ward councillor Adele Graham-King “on behalf of residents on Tunstall Bank, Burford Gardens, Satley Gardens and Dipton Gardens.”

A statement from Cllr Graham-King said the mast’s increase in height and additional equipment along the roadside would make “something which is currently reasonably innocuous […] very much more obvious” and noted the development would be “an eyesore to surrounding properties and residents”.

The councillor also noted the development was “within direct line of sight from several properties on Burford Gardens and opposite homes on Satley Gardens and Dipton Gardens” and “metres from the boundary of the closest property on Burford Gardens”, as well as noting potential health concerns.

Cllr Graham-King added: “I would ask that this current proposal is refused and an alternative location sought, further away from residential properties, [with] reduced visibility, consideration of the locality, and appeasing potential health concerns for everyone.”

Council planning officers, in a report published ahead of the decision-making Planning and Highways Committee, had recommended the plan for approval.

The committee report said that the proposal would “not unacceptably adversely affect the outlook from nearby residential properties/commercial properties, given the distances from facing windows and intervening features such as garden fencing and trees”.

It was noted that “when combined with existing street furniture, it is considered that the proposed equipment will neither infringe upon the character nor the amenity of the surrounding area”.

The council committee report referenced “the need to provide a level of telecommunications coverage within the area” and said that as part of the prior approval process, a condition was required “that the apparatus is coloured grey.”

During discussion of the planning application, councillor Michael Dixon referenced previous plans for a telecoms mast application in the St Michael’s ward which was refused by the council’s planning department in January, 2023, then allowed at appeal by a Government-appointed planning inspector.

Cllr Dixon asked whether there had been a change of council policy on telecoms mast applications, given the council’s planning department had previously recommended the above Ashbrooke planning application for refusal.

Council planners said the “key difference” between the previous telecoms mast application and the Essen Way application was that the new site was an “established site” for telecoms infrastructure.

It was noted that the telecommunications company would have a remit to “plug gaps in their 5G coverage” and if they could not progress the Essen Way site, they would “have to look elsewhere.”

Council planners also confirmed Sunderland City Council regularly receives applications for telecoms masts and that the majority are typically approved.

After being put to the vote, the plans won unanimous support from members of the Planning and Highways Committee.

Those behind the telecoms mast plans said the “specific mast design is often utilised in residential areas” and that “the overall design of the streetworks streetpole have been kept to a minimum to ensure that any visual impact is reduced where practicable, the antennas are structurally stable, and that improved network coverage is provided to the local area”.

Planning documents also confirmed that the “proposed mast will not only service voice calls but will include provision for 3G and 4G”, as well as providing coverage for emergency services and 5G coverage.

The applicant’s design, access and supporting statement adds: “It is considered that the proposed development is wholly appropriate for the local area, and that the economic, environmental and social benefits which will be brought forward by the proposal will greatly outweigh any visual impact that may be caused by the upgrade of the existing base station.”

For more information on the plan and council decision, visit Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website and search reference: 25/02483/TEX

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