A 30-metre high 5G mast could be built next to a Kenilworth wood if plans are signed off by Warwick District Council (WDC).

Icon Tower Infrastructure Limited has applied for planning permission for the structure next to Bullimore Wood off Leamington Road.

If approved, the scheme will see an existing 15-metre mast replaced with one twice as big.

With 12 antenna and five cabinets for different operators, the mast is for "consolidating equipment on to one single, multi-user mast". 

"Icon increases the competition in this growing sector, which the government recognises to be in the public interest," the application said.

"This is through the provision of additional shared sites to aid the deployment of 5G and future technologies in a cost effective manner that reduces the costs of the network operators.

"In turn this can translate into more competitive pricing for the general public consumers of their network services."

A view across Leamington Road to the new houses being built at Kenilworth Gate (image via planning application)

Icon says the trees at Bullimore will provide complete screening for the mast.

And explaining the need to double the height of the pole, Icon explained: "In order to provide coverage to the area, the height of 30m is required to clear the tree line for the foreseeable future.

"Therefore, the proposed mast is taller in height and wider to be a shareable structure and support multiple operators.

"The existing mast is below the tree line and therefore it is unlikely to be providing adequate coverage.

"In order for the antennas to remain above the tree line and to avoid the need for future tree lobbing, a 30m height was considered the most appropriate option."

Planning permission is also currently being sought by Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd for another 5G mast further down Leamington Road.

See the full application here.