Mobile Phone Firm Appeals After Hove 5G Mast Rejected

A mobile phone company has launched an appeal after plans for a 66ft (20-metre) 5G mast in Hove were refused by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Cornerstone, which operates on behalf of Vodafone and Three, had applied to install the mast on Dyke Road, near The Upper Drive, as part of efforts to boost mobile coverage and introduce faster 5G services in the area.

The council rejected the application earlier this year, saying the mast would harm the appearance of the “green gateway” into the city and add “visual clutter” to the street scene.

The decision followed strong local opposition — with more than 50 objections and a petition of 282 signatures sent to the council.

Many residents raised concerns about the impact on nearby Dyke Road Park and the surrounding landscape.

Cornerstone has now appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, submitting 41 documents including photo montages of how the mast would look from Dyke Road and nearby streets.

In its appeal statement, the company said the new structure was essential to improve signal strength and capacity for Vodafone Three customers in Prestonville and north-west Brighton, where existing infrastructure could not be upgraded due to limited space.

Cornerstone also claimed the council had failed to give proper weight to the national need for digital connectivity, adding that resistance to such developments could leave parts of the city with “limited and ineffective communication services.”

Residents and interested parties can read the full appeal or submit comments via the Planning Inspectorate’s website by searching reference 3373886.