Company plans to build 25-metre 5G mast near new Leeds leisure centre
The company says the new mast would bring better speeds to the suburb
A 25-metre mobile phone mast could be installed near new leisure centre facilities in east Leeds if plans are agreed with the council.
Telecoms firm Cornerstone has applied to install the equipment at Fearnville Leisure Centre and playing fields in Gipton.
The company said the mast was needed to replace an existing installation on top of nearby Oak Tree House.
The office block on Oakwood Lane could be demolished to made way for flats under separate plans being considered by Leeds City Council.
Cornerstone said its proposal would prevent a loss of 5G coverage for mobile firms including Vodafone and Virgin Media.
A planning report said: “Additionally, the proposals will provide the latest technologies to improve and promote a faster and more reliable service in Gipton.”
The council said work was yet to start on a redevelopment of the leisure centre, also on Oakwood Lane.
Plans included a swimming pool, fitness studio and gym, along with an artificial pitch and children’s playing area outside.
Cornerstone said its mast and six equipment cabinets would be installed in a fenced compound and would not conflict with the redevelopment.
The report said: “The application site is located south of the current position of Fearnville Leisure Centre, south-west of the tennis courts, east of the lawn bowls green and west of a public footpath.”
The installation would be designed to have a minimal impact on the surrounding area and would be partial screened by trees.
The mast needed to be 25 metres in height to pick up 5G signals, which used higher frequencies than earlier technology.
The report said: “A lower mast would materially obstruct the required signal propagation, resulting in coverage gaps and potentially requiring additional infrastructure elsewhere.
“The proposed height therefore represents the lowest technically viable solution while minimising visual impact as far as practical.”
Developer Bauer Group applied to demolish and replace Oak Tree House with a block of apartments.
Some 52 homes were first proposed for the site, reduced to 35 under revised plans submitted last month.