A wave of new 5G installations has been proposed across Croydon town centre, as reported by our sister title London Now.
Multiple applications have been submitted within days of each other, seeking permission to mount antennas onto existing lamp posts to boost connectivity.
The proposals, submitted under permitted development rights for electronic communications equipment, cover some of the borough’s busiest shopping streets and transport routes, London Now reports, where further details of the applications can be read.
The locations involved cover prominent spots such as outside Box Park on George Street, outside Marks and Spencer's on North End, and outside Sainsbury’s on George Street.
Additional proposed locations in the town centre include outside 21–23 Church Street, outside 40 Station Road, and outside Advance House on North End.
These lamp posts will be fitted with a 6m high, omni-directional antenna, with remote radio units positioned around 5m above ground level.
A feeder pillar cabinet will be installed at street level, with extra equipment such as GPS nodes also being added.
Further works have been proposed outside the boundaries of the town centre, such as on Beulah Road in Thornton Heath and at 53 Stoats Nest Road in Coulsdon.
The applications have been presented under a national permitted development route for telecommunications infrastructure, which means full planning permission is not required.
Despite this, the council can still deliberate over the impacts on siting and appearance.
The surge of applications suggests a coordinated rollout of small-cell 5G infrastructure across the town.
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Unlike the traditional big masts, small-cell systems are attached to street furniture, like lamp posts, and are designed to boost network capacity in dense areas, such as Croydon town centre.
The high number of retail shops, bus interchanges, and East Croydon station nearby make it a suitable choice for network densification.
However, previous telecommunications applications in town centres have drawn objections about visual impacts, the potential for street clutter, the cumulative impact of multiple installations, proximity to homes and businesses, and health concerns.
It should be noted that according to planning rules, health risks cannot be considered if the equipment adheres to International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) standards.
The proposed rollout in Croydon town centre signifies a larger shift in infrastructure.
There's a nationwide trend moving from large standalone masts toward more distributed small-cell networks embedded into city streets.
If these proposals are successful, Croydon town centre might witness an increase in visible telecommunications equipment across its main shopping corridors in the upcoming months.
