A planning application to upgrade a telecommunications tower in Biddulph Moor by enabling it to provide 5G has been approved.

We reported back in November how the application submitted to the district council sought permission to upgrade the 15 metre tower on New Street with an additional 5 metre extension.

A planning statement prepared on behalf of the applicant, Mobile Broadband Network Limited, said: "This submission is purely to upgrade this existing installation with new equipment to facilitate 5G coverage for providers such as EE and Three.

"The current installation is not being replaced but is being upgraded only with a lattice installation addition of similar design."

The application said the upgrade will provide "new and improved" coverage by giving the tower 5G capabilities and also said the design chosen was "the least visually intrusive option available".

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has now granted approval to the application.

A report by the district council's planning officers says: "It can be seen that there is both some removal and some addition of attached apparatus and overall the appearance in character and form of the structure is similar but taller.

"It could reasonably be said that the position of the existing mast in such close juxtaposition with the natural rock outcrop is unfortunate because it detracts incongruously from the natural rock outcrop.

"At the same time it also has to be noted that electronic telecommunication is a very integral aspect of modern society and the development no doubt has an important role in support of this."