Residents in Earlsdon are pushing back against plans for a 17.5-metre mobile phone mast, arguing it would cause lasting damage to the character of the conservation area and pose safety risks on the neighbourhood’s narrow streets.
The proposal would see the mast, along with three large equipment cabinets, installed at the site of 11 Clarendon Street, CV5 6EW. Coventry City Council has been asked to determine whether prior approval is required before the development can proceed, under reference PL/2026/0000993/PAEC.
An ePetition opposing the scheme has attracted 162 signatures since it launched on 26 June, and will remain open until 21 August. Campaigners argue the structure would be out of keeping with the Earlsdon Conservation Area and run counter to national planning guidance on preserving historic surroundings.
“Permanent and irreversible harm”
The petition warns that a mast of this height would dominate the local skyline, describing the potential damage to the area’s appearance as permanent and irreversible. It also raises concerns about the mast’s proximity to homes, arguing that families living nearby would have their quality of life and enjoyment of their properties undermined by a structure of this scale so close by.
Beyond the visual impact, residents have highlighted practical concerns about the neighbourhood’s infrastructure. With Earlsdon’s streets tightly packed and narrow, campaigners fear that construction and ongoing maintenance work would require heavy vehicles that could create road safety hazards, disrupt pedestrians and generate additional noise for those living nearby.
The petition further claims that the applicant has not adequately demonstrated that alternative, less sensitive sites were considered before settling on the Clarendon Street location.
Call to protect heritage
Campaigners say the mast would conflict with the council’s own design policies, which are intended to safeguard the conservation area’s residential character. They are urging the council to formally determine that prior approval is required for the scheme, giving planners the opportunity to scrutinise the application in full.
“We want to protect our heritage,” the petition states.
The public can view the full application and supporting documents on the council’s planning portal by searching the reference number PL/2026/0000993/PAEC, while the ePetition itself remains open for signatures on the council’s e-democracy website.
Coventry City Council is expected to consider the application in due course, weighing the mast’s telecommunications benefits against concerns raised by the local community.
The petition can be signed here:
https://edemocracy.coventry.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=697&RPID=416986272&HPID=416986272
