30-metre Telecoms Tower Proposed By Great West Road
Mast close to storage facility is replacing existing one facing removal
A visualisation of how the twoer might look from planning documents
October 2, 2026
A 30-metre telecommunications tower is being proposed on land beside the Big Yellow Self Storage facility on the Great West Road. EE and Hutchison 3G Ltd is seeking permission for a replacement mast to maintain mobile coverage in the Brentford area. The application, PA/2026/2702, has been registered with Hounslow Council and is currently out for consultation.
The site, just west of Chiswick Roundabout and south of Gunnersbury Park, sits between the A4, the elevated M4 and the railway line. According to the submission, the new structure is required because the operators have received a Notice to Quit on their existing installation at 272 Gunnersbury Avenue, which is being redeveloped.
At 30 metres, the proposed lattice tower is significantly taller than the typical “streetworks” monopoles that have sprung up in the area in recent years, which usually range from 15 to 20 metres. The applicant acknowledges the height but argues it is necessary at this location due to the surrounding environment including the nearby flyover and the technical requirements of modern networks.
The submission explains that clutter from tall buildings, tree lines and the elevated motorway requires antennas to sit well above obstructions to avoid signal degradation.
The operators also highlight that 5G cells have a relatively small radius — around 250 metres — meaning the replacement mast must be positioned close to the existing coverage footprint. The document states: “The site is required to provide new 5G coverage… The cell search areas for 5G are extremely constrained… meaning that it would not be feasible to site the column outside of this locale.”
The proposed location is tucked into the corner of the Big Yellow Chiswick site (which is in Brentford), screened by the storage building and the M4 viaduct. The applicant argues that this makes it visually less intrusive than other options. Several alternative sites were assessed and rejected, including locations on Gunnersbury Avenue, Great West Road and outside B&Q on Larch Drive. Reasons included highway safety concerns, tree loss, underground services, proximity to the railway and lack of screening.
The submission states: “The site has been carefully selected in a position that benefits from the screening afforded by the M4 motorway and the Big Yellow Building.”
The operators emphasise that this is not an expansion of the network but a direct replacement for a mast that is being removed.
The new tower would host equipment for EE, Three and the Emergency Services Network (ESN), with cabinets at ground level.
The application argues that the proposal complies with both the National Planning Policy Framework and Hounslow’s Local Plan, which supports improved digital connectivity. The submission notes that the site is within the settlement boundary and not subject to any special landscape or heritage designations.
Despite contacting the council’s planning department last month, the applicant reports that no comments had been received at the time of submission.
A consultation letter was also sent to Kew House School.
The application is now open for public comment. As a prior-approval telecoms proposal, the council will assess siting and appearance rather than the principle of need, which national policy says should not be questioned.
To make a comment visit the planning section of the Hounslow Council web site and search using reference: PA/2026/2702.
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