WIREDGOV

New planning laws aimed at accelerating the rollout of broadband across Britain could also give free rein for 50 ft high mobile phone masts to be built anywhere developers choose to put them.

Councils have major concerns that Government proposals to relax planning restrictions on the siting of telecoms infrastructure could open the floodgates to phone masts, as well as broadband street cabinets and overhead cabling, being built in the countryside and near to people's homes.

Clause 8 in the Government's Growth and Infrastructure Bill removes the need for developers to seek planning approval for new telecoms infrastructure. Ministers have said this is aimed at making it easier to install new broadband junction boxes and pylons. However, the Bill states that this would apply to all telecoms infrastructure, which would include mobile phone masts. This is because EU rules prevent Government from applying different rules to different types of communications technology.

Councils are concerned that the legal change would leave residents and local authorities powerless to object to the unchecked development of 50 ft phone masts – equivalent to the height of three-and-a-half double decker buses – near schools, beauty spots, heritage sites and people's homes.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 370 councils is England and Wales, is calling for the clause to be scrapped. MPs are set to debate the planning reforms when the Growth and Infrastructure Bill returns to the House of Commons for Report Stage this week.

Cllr Mike Jones, Chairman of the LGA's Environment and Housing Board, said:

"This badly thought-out legal change proposes the wrong solution to the wrong problem, and in doing so will create a loophole which could create a mobile phone mast free-for-all.

"It is an extraordinary and alarming proposition that a phone mast the height of three double decker buses could be put up outside the front of someone's home without them having any say in the matter.

"These plans would leave people powerless to object and councils unable to intervene. This would be a blow to local democracy and could cause deep and long-term damage to communities."

Councils believe that removing planning restrictions on broadband infrastructure like junction boxes and overhead cabling is unnecessary and could be counterproductive to Government's aim of speeding up the roll-out of rural broadband.

Cllr Jones added:

"Councils have spent years working together with developers and network providers to improve access to technology in a way which takes into account people's desire to preserve their local environment. This is why cabling is now increasingly placed underground.

"This policy would turn the clock back to a return to the Wild West wirescapes of the 1960s and 70s.

"There is no question that spreading access to broadband should be a priority but this poorly thought-out approach risks doing more harm than good. Rural areas should be able to access 21st century technology without developers blighting heritage sites and beautiful countryside views with ugly pylons, junctions boxes and overhead cabling.

"Local authorities want to be able to work with network providers to ensure local areas get the best possible coverage in a way that residents are happy with."

Author: LGA Media Office
Contact : LGA Media Office, Telephone: 020 7664 3333

Notes to editors

1. The proposed changes to planning rules in clause 8 of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill do not distinguish between ‘electronic communications equipment'. This term has a wide definition and would include telephone masts up to 15m (50ft) tall

2. The Growth and Infrastructure Bill returns to the House of Commons for its Third Reading on February 27.