{"id":44264,"date":"2025-12-18T11:53:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T11:53:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=44264"},"modified":"2025-12-18T11:53:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T11:53:51","slug":"gov-consult-on-reform-of-uk-planning-rules-to-boost-broadband-and-5g-builds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/12\/gov-consult-on-reform-of-uk-planning-rules-to-boost-broadband-and-5g-builds.html","title":{"rendered":"Gov Consult on Reform of UK Planning Rules to Boost Broadband and 5G Builds"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Government has today published a new consultation on reforming planning rules, which is seeking feedback on whether they should further change planning rules and update policy guidance to help “accelerate the deployment<\/em>” of digital infrastructure (full fibre broadband and 5G<\/a> mobile etc.).<\/p>\n

In case anybody has forgotten, the Government’s manifesto (here<\/a>) previously made clear that they would be making a \u201crenewed push to fulfil the ambition of full gigabit and national 5G<\/a> coverage by 2030.<\/em>\u201d This was later supported by the expression of a desire for more flexibility in the planning system (here<\/a>), which might make it easier to deploy new infrastructure \u2013 those who oppose new telecoms poles and masts will be watching closely.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Some 88% of premises can already access a fixed gigabit broadband (here<\/a>) and Ofcom<\/a> forecast this rising to around 91-97% (homes) by Jan 2028 (here<\/a>). As for 5G<\/a>, the regulator found (here<\/a>) that it is available from at least one mobile operator at around 94-97% of UK premises or 64-89% from all operators combined.<\/div>\n

Naturally, broadband and mobile operators have not been shy about producing their own wish lists for what this could mean (here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a> and here<\/a>), which often echo a strong desire for the full embracement of flexi-permits<\/a> and the cancelling of plans for street works charging. Not to mention those that continue to push for easier access to run new fibre into blocks of flats (this is now happening<\/a>) and the many calls for greater infrastructure sharing etc.<\/p>\n

All of this is in service of meeting some key targets, such as the \u00a35bn Project Gigabit programme and its aim of helping to extend gigabit broadband (1000Mbps+) ISP networks to \u201cnationwide<\/em>\u201d coverage (c.99% of UK premises) by 2032, focusing mostly on the final 10-20% in hard-to-reach areas.<\/p>\n

The government also retains an ambition \u201cfor all populated areas<\/em>\u201d to have access to Standalone 5G (5G SA) based mobile broadband technology by 2030. 5GSA is currently already available across 83% of areas outside of premises in the UK, or 47%-65% when looking at the range across different mobile operators.<\/p>\n

However, while the government’s recent 10-Year UK Infrastructure Strategy<\/strong><\/a> (10YIS) did confirm a push to better tackle blocks of flats and to \u201cbring forward<\/em>\u201c a more flexible permitting system (flexi-permits), it was rather short on any other changes or key planning reforms that might be required.<\/p>\n

The new consultation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The new consultation on planning reform<\/strong><\/a>, which is open for feedback until 26th February 2026<\/strong>, doesn’t yet set out any final proposals and is instead more of a call for evidence on what changes need to be made in order for digital infrastructure to be “built faster<\/em>“.<\/p>\n

The primary focus here is on England (planning is a devolved matter), but the consultation does also encourage views from stakeholders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on interactions with their planning frameworks, and on any cross-border implications.<\/p>\n

Consultation Focus (Extract)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Time spent navigating planning requirements and securing approvals could add time and cost to deployment, delaying the rollout and upgrading of mobile and fixed networks and the infrastructure needed to deliver 5GSA<\/abbr>\u2019s benefits for businesses, public services and consumers. Planning application statistics suggests that the vast majority of prior approval applications submitted under permitted development rights (across all sectors) are approved.<\/p>\n

However, applications for telecoms infrastructure make up a small proportion of total applications and are not separately identified, therefore it is not possible to draw conclusions from these statistics, and we hope to collect relevant information with this call for evidence.<\/p>\n

Industry reports a significant proportion of prior\u2011approval applications are refused. Initial industry views suggest that where network operators are refused planning permission they often appeal the planning decision and a large share of appeals  get overturned by the Planning Inspectorate.<\/p>\n

The process for appealing a planning decision can extend deployments by up to a year and add material cost. Industry states that if permitted development rights were changed to prior notification instead of prior approval, it would improve the speed of deployment.<\/p>\n

We have identified several areas where we seek additional evidence and information to determine whether further reforms to planning rules are necessary to support the government\u2019s nationwide coverage ambitions. These policy areas include:  <\/p>\n