'Big golf ball' at hill radar site to be replaced

The structure would be replaced by another at Clee Hill radar station

A structure that looks like a large golf ball for a radar facility could be removed and replaced with another nearby.

The radome on Titterstone Clee Hill in Shropshire is part of a station from National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and would be decommissioned under a programme of work to make use of updated technology.

NATS was licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority to provide air traffic control services throughout the UK.

The new radar would be about 180m (590.5ft) from the current site on existing foundations where there had been a tower previously, planning documents submitted to Shropshire Council said.

The current radome with a diameter of 16m (52.5ft) would be decommissioned, but the platform below it, the tower underneath that and an equipment building would remain.

It is one of two current radomes in the area.

It is one of two radomes in the area

The new facility, also looking like a big golf ball, would have a 12.5m (41ft) diameter and be atop a 10.2m (33ft) high structure.

Rebecca Skerrett from Avison Young said: "NATS operates multiple sites across the UK to ensure blanket radar coverage is provided and therefore, its ability to maintain these existing stations is highly important."

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, produced this sight featuring the structure in 2023