NALC to respond to the government's consultation on the deployment of 5G

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will be responding to the government's consultation on the proposed reforms to permitted development rights to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage.

NALC's response will be restating its key points on the subject, which includes:

• A change in government policy on planning applications for mobile telephone masts to ensure that all heights of masts are subject to a full planning application and proper consultation with local (parish and town) councils
• New build houses and business to be provided with in-built infrastructure to enable connection to fibre-optic broadband
• NALC supports the Rural Coalition’s call for infrastructure, which reaches rural areas so the rural economy can grow and create jobs

The consultation seeks views on amending permitted development rights for operators with rights under the Electronic Communications Code (Code Operators) to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage, and the circumstances in which it would be appropriate to do so. It will also explore views on whether it is suitable to impose specific limitations, conditions and restrictions on any amendments to permitted development rights to mitigate the impact of any new development.

Cllr Sue Baxter, chairman of NALC, said: “NALC is pleased that the government has announced this consultation. For too long residents in rural parished areas have suffered from the dual blight of inadequate access to mobile telephone signals and very poor rural broadband connections. We hope the government will strike the right balance and secure improved signal provision without having huge masts affecting the rural skyline.”

NALC will invite the lead official from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to attend and brief its Policy Committee on 1 October 2019.