A 20-metre tall phone mast is planned for north Bristol, blocking views of a historic Grade-II listed orphanage. Network provider Three has applied for planning permission from Bristol City Council to install the phone mast on Ashley Down Road.
The mast would stand in front of the Muller House building, a giant orphanage built in the 1800s and recently converted into flats. Neighbours living in the area have complained that the phone mast would spoil views of the historic buildings. They added that network coverage in Ashley Down is already good, questioning the need for another mast.
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Local resident Daniel Tribe said: “Our main concerns are about the sheer scale of the proposed mast and its impact on the community. At 20 metres tall—over 65 feet—it would dominate the area especially in its placement directly in front of a Grade-II listed historic building, inside the Ashley Down conservation area and within metres of the windows of the flats in Ashley Heights.
“The mast and cabinets would be placed on the pavement, narrowing a busy section used frequently due to the proximity to local schools, Bristol City College and Ashley Down Green play area. Allowing this plan to be approved would set a precedent allowing other networks to set up equipment in the same location.”
Several other residents have written to the council to object to their plans. Concerns include the height of the mast, blocking the views of the historic building, and the many nearby alternative locations where a mast could be built.
One resident said: “I live in the neighbouring Grade-II listed building and I don’t see how these plans take into account the proximity to these protected buildings. It’ll be an awful eyesore for a huge proportion of the residents here and I’d like to object to the proposal.”
According to Three, there is a hole in the coverage in this part of Bristol. And the “massive shift” from people now working from home post-Covid has meant that network providers across the country have had to adapt, due to the extra demand for internet in residential areas.
Writing to the council, representatives for Three said: “There is a specific requirement for an installation at Ashley Down Road to ensure that the latest high quality 3G and 4G service provision is provided in this area of the city. The proposed column will also ensure that new 5G coverage can be provided at this location.
“The current massive shift in user demand, from city centres and places of work to residential areas and suburbs, requires an improvement in coverage and capacity throughout the whole network. There is currently a hole in the coverage in this area of Ashley Down, therefore a new site is required to provide the latest 3G, 4G and 5G technology.”
People wishing to comment on the planning application must do so before Thursday, September 29. The application can be found on the council’s website, with the reference 22/04074/Y.
