A planning application is underway for the installation of a 24-metre 5G telecommunications mast at Painswick Golf Club, aimed at significantly bolstering the area’s mobile infrastructure and digital connectivity.
Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd has submitted the proposal, which involves replacing the existing 15-metre monopole with a taller lattice tower. The new structure will support two antennas, a 300mm and a 600mm transmission dish, as well as six ERS (equipment radio systems) units, along with associated ancillary development.
The application, made under Part 16 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, seeks prior approval solely regarding the siting and appearance of the mast. It is located on land at Painswick Golf Club, off Golf Course Road in Gloucestershire.
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According to Cornerstone, the installation is part of a nationwide effort to “enable best-in-class mobile connectivity” for over half of the UK’s mobile customers. The company aims to “promote shared infrastructure” and “significantly reduce the environmental impact of network development” through base station consolidation.
While the proposal represents a significant change to the landscape, it is also portrayed as vital digital infrastructure. “Without these ongoing improvements to connectivity, areas will become digital black spots where the lack of connectivity prevents economic development,” reads Cornerstone’s Community Information Sheet.
In response to public concerns about 5G safety, the application includes documents asserting compliance with international health standards. The developer states that “various international assessments have concluded that below the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation (ICNIRP) Guidelines there is no evidence of adverse health effects”.
Ofcom’s 2020 measurements are also referenced, which found that emission levels from 5G base stations were “at small fractions of the levels identified in the ICNIRP Guidelines”. The UK Health Security Agency added in 2019 that “the overall exposure is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and, as such, there should be no consequences for public health”.
Nationally, the project aligns with government objectives to make the UK a world leader in 5G coverage by 2027. A supporting letter from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport encourages councils to support digital infrastructure rollouts, noting that “coverage is essential to keep pace with growing demand for internet bandwidth and mobile data from local businesses, residents and those who visit our communities”.
The application is currently under review by Stroud District Council. Members of the public are able to comment on the proposal during the consultation period, after which a decision will be made on whether prior approval is required and whether it will be granted.