Replacement radio tower approved
GooglePlans for a new radio tower providing "essential" coverage for emergency services have been approved.
Sunderland City Council's planning department gave the green light for the facility within the Whitworth Road Industrial Estate in Washington, near the city.
An existing structure in the town centre is due to be decommissioned and applicant Airwave Solutions Ltd said a replacement was needed to ensure essential emergency services coverage was maintained in the area.
The new tower will be 22.5 m (73.8 ft) high.
A council decision report published on 1 June confirmed "prior approval" was not required and the scheme can progress, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
It was noted that the Airwave network was "restricted solely to the approved public safety organisations and the emergency services" and was "not a commercial mobile phone network available to the general public".
Council planners said the new radio tower was proposed in an industrial setting with other masts nearby and "would not result in harm which outweigh the significant public benefit with regard to improved connectivity to the area for emergency services".
