5G mast plans for Wrexham city centre rejected due to “impact on the street scene”

Proposals for a new 5G mast in Wrexham city centre have been rejected by the local authority.

The application for an 18m monopole and equipment cabinets at St Giles Way was amongst several submitted in recent months for locations around Wrexham.

CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) Ltd, the applicants behind the development, said the plans will help to “ensure that the latest high quality 3G and 4G service provision is provided in this area of the borough.” ‌

The proposed column, which would support six antennas, would also help to ensure that new 5G coverage can also be provided at this location. ‌

An electric meter cabinet and ancillary developments were also proposed as part of the installation​.‌

In the initial proposals, the applicants said: “Mobile telecoms networks are now ubiquitous throughout the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is an expectation that an individual can connect and use their mobile phone whenever and wherever they are. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the advent of new technology, under the banner of 5G, further advances are proposed and Central Government has seen the telecoms industry, and in particular 5G, to be at the forefront of economic development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This site will enable 5G coverage to be provided to this area of Wrexham. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Government recognises that widespread coverage of mobile connectivity is essential for people and businesses. ‌

Other sites that were considered and discarded by the applicants included.​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Eagles Meadow
• Tuttle Street
• The Dunks, Caia Park
• Salop Road
• Hightown Road
• Mount Street
• Pierce’s Square
• Yorke Street
• The Wynnstay Arms Hotel

However these sites were rejected due to being unable to provide the required level of coverage, narrow footpaths which are unable to accomodate the equipment and the existing building structure​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

But the plans have now been rejected by David Fitzsimon, Chief Officer Economy and Planning, through a delegated decision.

In his decision Mr Fitzsimon, said: “The development would have a detrimental impact upon the street scene and therefore conflicts with PPW11 and TAN19 as well as policies GDP1 and CLF8 of the Wrexham UDP.”