Sutton Common BT Tower

{{Short description|Radio tower near Macclesfield, Cheshire, England}}

{{Infobox UK transmitter

|name = Sutton Common

|image = 250px

|caption = Sutton Common BT Tower

|map_name = Cheshire

|coordinates = {{coord|53.206129|-2.100728|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}

|location = Macclesfield, Cheshire

|height2 =

|gridref = SJ9327467710

|built = 1960s

|demolished =

|collapsed =

|footnotes =

}}

Sutton Common BT Tower is a 72-metre (238-foot){{cn|date=February 2016}} radio tower built of reinforced concrete at Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. Sutton Common was originally conceived as part of the 1950s 'Backbone' chain designed to provide the UK and NATO with survivable communications during nuclear war.Backbone radio link and radio standby to line links for safeguarding vital communications. GPO paper for the Official Committee on Civil Defence, July 1956. The National Archives (UK) CAB 134/1207

The tower stands near the summit of Croker Hill on the western edge of the Peak District national park. Sutton relays signals to Heaton Park in the north and Pye Green to the south. For survivability during a nuclear war, the Backbone towers are some of the few communication towers in the United Kingdom built of reinforced concrete.

A wind farm was proposed on land adjacent to the transmitter but was objected to for various reasons, including the possible effects of turbine blades on the fixed link.{{cite web |title=Planning Application Details |url=https://planning.cheshireeast.gov.uk/applicationdetails.aspx?pr=12/3438M |website=Cheshire East Council |access-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409124754/https://planning.cheshireeast.gov.uk/applicationdetails.aspx?pr=12/3438M |archive-date=Apr 9, 2023 |language=en |date=5 Sep 2012}}