Key Points
- Development Proposals: There have been prior approval applications by WHP Telecoms to install a 20-meter tower of a mobile phone on North Street Green in Bedminster, South Bristol.
- Network Carriers: The above structure is going to provide and carry mobile network services of Three (H3G) and EE Ltd.
- Location Information: The above site falls adjacent to North Street Green and faces the well-known ‘Six Sisters’ street art.
- Community Reaction: Friends of North Street Green community volunteers have been very against the above proposal, with the chair Mo Mulligan calling the above development a “monstrosity”.
- Planning Details: WHP Telecoms said the above location was selected after pre-planning discussions with Bristol City Council planners.
South Bristol (Bristol Express News) October 13, 2026 – A telecommunications infrastructure firm has announced plans to install a 20-metre-tall mobile phone mast in the heart of one of South Bristol’s most prominent community spaces. WHP Telecoms has submitted a formal submission to Bristol City Council planning officers to determine whether prior approval is required for the siting and appearance of the proposed structure at the front of North Street Green in Bedminster, positioned opposite the renowned ‘Six Sisters’ street art landmark.
As reported by Chief Reporter Tristan Cork of Bristol Live, the proposed mast is intended to serve as a direct replacement for an existing installation located nearby and will carry services for both the 3 (H3G) and EE mobile networks.
In official correspondence submitted to local authority planners at the start of October, WHP Telecoms highlighted that the network operators hold permitted development rights for such infrastructure on public land. As cited by Tristan Cork of Bristol Live, WHP Telecoms stated in their letter to the council:
“Hutchison & EE Ltd benefits from permitted development rights for this development as set out under the above order. H3G and EE are required to apply to the local planning authority for a determination as to whether the prior approval of the authority will be required to the siting and appearance of the development set out below.”
The infrastructure provider further explained that the selection of the site followed preliminary engagement with local planning officials. As reported by Tristan Cork of Bristol Live, WHP Telecoms added:
“The location has been identified as being necessary for EE Ltd business development and meets its specific technical and operational requirements. The identification of this location follows pre-application discussion with your Department, and we now make a formal application to you as planning authority.”
What Is the Community Reaction to the Proposed Telecommunications Infrastructure?
The announcement of the proposal has drawn significant criticism from local residents and community organizers involved in the recent revitalization of the green space. North Street Green, situated at the junction of Luckwell Road and North Street, has undergone extensive community-led enhancements over recent years following the establishment of the ‘Friends of North Street Green’ volunteer group.
Improvements led by the volunteer group have included the removal of commercial advertising hoardings surrounding the nearby electricity substation, the commissioning of new street art, the installation of planters and picnic benches, and the recent creation of a mini-wildflower meadow along a section of the green.
Speaking to Bristol Live’s Chief Reporter Tristan Cork, Mo Mulligan, Chair of the Friends of North Street Green, expressed firm opposition to the installation. As reported by Tristan Cork of Bristol Live, Mo Mulligan stated:
“There’s no way we want that monstrosity where they are asking to put it. It’s in entirely the wrong place. We will certainly be making an objection clear.”
Highlighting the recent regeneration efforts undertaken by the community, Mo Mulligan further remarked to Tristan Cork of Bristol Live:
“North Street Green is a really vibrant park now, we’ve done so much work over the last few years and that would definitely spoil the impact of what we’re trying to achieve there.”
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What Is the Background of the North Street Green Development?
North Street Green in Bedminster has historically evolved from an underutilised urban corner into a central hub for community gatherings and local street art culture. Positioned opposite the ‘Six Sisters’—one of Europe’s largest series of painted building facades created by female street artists—the area forms a focal point of South Bristol’s visual identity and cultural tourism.
In recent years, the physical environment of North Street Green was predominantly defined by commercial utility structures and large advertising hoardings erected around an electricity substation on the corner of Luckwell Road and North Street. The formation of the ‘Friends of North Street Green’ marked a shift toward community ownership of local green spaces. Volunteers worked alongside local authorities and artists to remove commercial signage, erect public seating, introduce green planters, and cultivate natural habitats including a mini-wildflower meadow.
The submission by WHP Telecoms under permitted development legislation represents the latest in a series of nationwide telecommunications upgrades designed to replace older infrastructure and enhance 5G coverage across urban centers. Permitted development rules grant network operators broader scope to construct mobile mast infrastructure on public highways and land, subject to local authority determination regarding design and placement.
How Could This Development Affect Bedminster Residents, Visitors, and Local Businesses?
The proposed installation of a 20-metre telecommunications mast at North Street Green holds several direct implications for local residents, visitors, and commercial operators in Bedminster:
- Visual and Aesthetic Impact on Local Heritage: For residents and visitors, the introduction of a 20-metre vertical structure in front of North Street Green could alter the visual landscape of North Street. The site sits directly across from the iconic ‘Six Sisters’ artwork, and local community members express concern that a prominent telecommunications tower may detract from the artistic character and open feel of the newly transformed green space.
- Community Engagement and Local Governance: For local volunteers and civic groups such as the Friends of North Street Green, the proposal tests the degree to which community-led urban regeneration projects are weighed against national infrastructure priorities. The formal planning objection process will provide an avenue for residents to present feedback to Bristol City Council planners regarding siting considerations.
- Mobile Network Connectivity and Coverage: For consumers and local businesses relying on mobile digital services in South Bristol, the upgrade and replacement of mobile infrastructure by EE Ltd and 3 (H3G) aim to maintain and improve network capacity, connection reliability, and data bandwidth across the Bedminster area as demand for digital connectivity continues to grow.
