A phone mast in Solihull's countryside is recommended to be thrown out by planners. 

Icon Tower Infrastructure Limited (ITIL) has applied to install a 25m lattice mast on land in Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common.

The firm says the new 'base station' is required due to the existing mast there being unsuitable. 

ITIL says the location is "necessary for specific technical and operational requirements" and the mast generally is needed to "future proof the site" as it would have the capacity to host multiple operators' equipment and host 5G technologies.

The application has been called in to Solihull Council's planning committee by Cllr Heather Delaney, the ward councillor for Meriden where the mast is proposed.

In a report by council officers ahead of the committee's meeting next week, officers have said there is "no justification" for it. 

The mast is proposed for land off Kenilworth Road (image via Google Maps)

Officers write: "The applicant has advised that the proposed mast is required as part of the new national 5G network rollout. 

"However, this has not been justified through the submission of cell search areas or coverage plots, as there is no specific end user at this stage.

"The location of this site is in close proximity to a 50m HV Pylon which currently has antennas installed on it.  However there has been no agreement for the operator to transfer their equipment to this proposed mast.

"Several possible alternative sites were considered but rejected (by the applicant).

"Taken as a whole, this application does not satisfy the council that there is justification for this mast and associated equipment."

Officers recommend planning committee members reject the application when they meet at the Civic Suite at 6pm next Wednesday, (June 12).