Emley Moor transmitting station
Emley Moor transmitting station, officially known as The Arqiva Tower, is a telecommunications and broadcasting facility on Emley Moor, in Kirklees, West Yorkshire.
With a height of 330.4 m (1,084 ft), it is the tallest freestanding structure in the UK, the seventh tallest in the European Union, and the 24th tallest tower in the world. It is 20.8 m taller than The Shard, which is popularly thought to be the tallest structure in the UK.
Designed by Arup, the structure consists of a tapered cylindrical pillar of reinforced concrete, topped by a steel lattice mast carrying 55 m (180 ft) tall antennas.
The current tower is the third such structure to have occupied the site. The original lattice tower was built in 1956 and measured 135 m (443 ft) tall. It was used to broadcast ITV to the Yorkshire area. In 1964, it was replaced by a guyed mast measuring 385.5 m (1,265 ft).
In March 1969, the structure collapsed as a result of strong winds and the weight of ice that had formed around the top of the mast and on the guy wires. The subsequent committee of inquiry blamed the collapse on a form of oscillation which occurred at a low but steady wind speed.
The construction of the current tower was begun in 1969 and was completed in 1971. It is built on foundations which extend 6 m (20 ft) into the ground. A control room at 274 m (900 ft) can be reached by a lift that takes around 7 minutes to ascend.
In 2002, English Heritage (now Historic England) granted the tower Grade II listed building status due to its ‘significant architectural or historic interest’.
In recent years, the tower has had supporting structures attached to accommodate more dishes and aerials, reflecting the changing nature of communications and technology.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Guidance notes to prepare for April ERA changes
From the Electrical Contractors' Association Employee Relations team.
Significant changes to be seen from the new ERA in 2026 and 2027, starting on 6 April 2026.
First aid in the modern workplace with St John Ambulance.
Ireland's National Residential Retrofit Plan
Staged initiatives introduced step by step.
Solar panels, pitched roofs and risk of fire spread
60% increase in solar panel fires prompts tests and installation warnings.
Modernising heat networks with Heat interface unit
Why HIUs hold the key to efficiency upgrades.
Reflecting on the work of the CIOB Academy
Looking back on 2025 and where it's going next.
Procurement in construction: Knowledge hub
Brief, overview, key articles and over 1000 more covering procurement.
Sir John Betjeman’s love of Victorian church architecture.
Exchange for Change for UK deposit return scheme
The UK Deposit Management Organisation established to deliver Deposit Return Scheme unveils trading name.
A guide to integrating heat pumps
As the Future Homes Standard approaches Future Homes Hub publishes hints and tips for Architects and Architectural Technologists.
BSR as a standalone body; statements, key roles, context
Statements from key figures in key and changing roles.
ECA launches Welsh Election Manifesto
ECA calls on political parties at 100 day milestone to the Senedd elections.
Resident engagement as the key to successful retrofits
Retrofit is about people, not just buildings, from early starts to beyond handover.
Plastic, recycling and its symbol
Student competition winning, M.C.Esher inspired Möbius strip design symbolising continuity within a finite entity.
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.