Full fibre internet and 5G mobile coverage could soon be coming to a town just south of Norwich with the construction of a new substation - so long as it keeps the noise down. 

Telecommunications firm CityFibre is one step closer to bringing the high-speed service to Wymondham after its Ayton Road power station was given the green light.  

The build will make use of a vacant lorry parking lot and will comprise two fibre-optic cabins on a concrete base, surrounded by 2.4m high fencing.

Plans for a new substation in Ayton Road have been approvedPlans for a new substation in Ayton Road have been approved (Image: South Norfolk Council) Each cabin would require five air conditioning units which would produce noise that may affect homes in nearby Browick Road.

CityFibre said this noise will be "low impact" but South Norfolk Council's planning committee said the build can go ahead so long as measures are taken to minimise the impact. 

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This includes installing "bespoke" attenuator units which would reduce the noise produced by the air conditioners by at least eight decibels. 

The units will need to be mounted in such a way that any noise is not carried to homes in the vicinity. 

The site would include two cabins with five air conditioning units apieceThe site would include two cabins with five air conditioning units apiece (Image: South Norfolk Council) In addition, the substation's emergency generators must only be used in the event of energy blackouts or for testing because they are likely to be much louder.

Testing should only take place between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday for a maximum of 30 minutes once a month. 

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Other conditions for the proposal's approval are to keep exterior lighting to a minimum and to maintain all trees surrounding the site. 

The project can go ahead so long as certain conditions are metThe project can go ahead so long as certain conditions are met (Image: Google) The new station comes as part of 'Project Gigabit 4', a government-assisted contract to bring gigabit internet to 62,000 premises across Norfolk.

Gigabit broadband is a connection that can deliver speeds of 1,000 megabits per second or more. The UK average is drastically lower at around 69mbt/s.

Government ministers hope that better internet connectivity will help the country's economy recover from the long-lasting effects of the Covid pandemic.  

Work on the site could begin soonWork on the site could begin soon (Image: Newsquest)