Council Refuses Telecoms Mast at End of Park Road

Planners concerned about visual impact, tree damage and road safety

A visualisation from the applicant of how the mast might have looked

October 4, 2026

A proposal to install a 17.5-metre 5G monopole at the corner of Great West Road and Park Road has been refused by Hounslow Council, following concerns about visual impact, tree damage and road safety.

The application, submitted in August under the national Prior Approval process, sought permission for a tall Orion monopole carrying six antennas, two transmission dishes, three remote radio units and two equipment cabinets. The site sits immediately beside Grandfield Court and forms part of the setting of the Chiswick House Conservation Area.

Because objections were received, the Council was required to assess the mast’s siting and appearance under Schedule 2, Part 16 of the General Permitted Development Order. In its decision issued on 1 October, the authority concluded that Prior Approval was both needed and refused.

The planner’s report describes the mast as significantly taller than surrounding street furniture, including nearby lampposts and trees. Officers found that the structure would “tower above the trees and other existing street furniture” and appear “incongruous within the Chiswick House Conservation Area,” creating a visually cluttered environment at the gateway to Chiswick. The borough’s Conservation Officer objected, stating that the mast would harm the character and appearance of the area.

The site sits within a green verge containing mature trees. Transport for London (TfL) raised detailed concerns about the applicant’s arboricultural assessment, stating that the submitted root protection analysis did not comply with the necessary standards and failed to account for asymmetrical root growth typical of roadside trees.

TfL also noted that proposed trial pits would only be dug after permission was granted, leaving no opportunity to amend the design if significant roots were discovered. The Council agreed that insufficient evidence had been provided to demonstrate that the mast could be installed without harming nearby trees.

The location sits on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN), a high-traffic section of the A4. TfL objected strongly to the construction methodology, which required closure of the inside lane for eight days and two lanes for an additional day.

Officers also found that the applicant had not demonstrated that the mast and cabinets would maintain safe pedestrian and cyclist access along the adjacent footway.

Three objections were received from residents, raising concerns about visual intrusion, harm to the conservation area, obstruction of the footway, impacts on disabled access, and the proximity of the mast to windows at Grandfield Court. Residents also questioned whether alternative, less harmful sites had been properly explored.