LGA anger over proposals to relax planning rules for broadband rollout

The Local Government Association has accused the Government of “riding roughshod” over planning protections after the Culture Secretary announced a major relaxation of the rules in a drive to roll out superfast broadband.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it would legislate immediately following consultation where necessary, and/or use existing powers to ensure that, for the next five years:

  • broadband street cabinets can be installed in any location other than a Site of Special Scientific Interest "without the need for prior approval from the local council and without any conditions being placed upon the construction or design by local authorities except in exceptional circumstances";


  • broadband fibre and other broadband infrastructure can be located under or above private land "without the bureaucratic burden of long-running negotiations"; and
  • overhead broadband lines can be installed in any area without the need for planning or other permission. “We will encourage providers to engage with the local community on the siting of overhead lines as a matter of good practice.”

The DCMS said it would also broker a new deal for broadband installation with industry and highway authorities to ensure that traffic regulation does not hinder the roll out of superfast broadband.

In addition it will insist that any new local authority street work permit schemes approved between now and 2015 are focused on the most traffic sensitive streets.

A review will be undertaken of all existing permit schemes and the way works are classified, “in order to streamline processes, shorten timescales for approval of works, and reduce fees”.

The Department also said it would work with mobile operators, local government and other interested parties to streamline the planning process and speed up the deployment of mobile infrastructure.

The Government has promised to invest £680m with the stated aim of ensuring the UK has the best superfast broadband by 2015.

Maria Miller, who took over as Culture Secretary from Jeremy Hunt in this week’s reshuffle, said: “Superfast broadband is vital to secure our country’s future – to kick start economic growth and create jobs.

“We are putting in the essential infrastructure that will make UK businesses competitive, and sweeping away the red tape that is a barrier to economic recovery. The Government means business and we are determined to cut through the bureaucracy that is holding us back.”

Responding to the Culture Secretary’s announcement, Cllr Mike Jones, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Environment and Housing Board, said: “You cannot take away the rights of people to have a say on six-foot high humming junction boxes outside their windows and gardens or poles and wires festooning their streets.

“Decisions on where to place broadband infrastructure must consider the impact on local environments rather than simply suit the convenience of companies and their engineers. Rushed and unnecessary road works to lay cables also risk costing council tax payers a fortune in repairs and, even when done properly, shorten the life of the roads.”

The real barriers to broadband roll-out, he argued, were the Government’s failure to get EU clearance to spend £530m of earmarked funding and providers trying to dictate the terms of infrastructure development without regard to local communities and conservation areas.

Cllr Jones also called on the Government to encourage providers to work together to make better use of existing ducts and poles, rather than duplicating infrastructure.
 
He said: “Councils are as committed as government to improving internet services for residents and business to help drive forward growth in their areas. However, the answer isn’t riding roughshod over planning protections and it’s vital government doesn’t lose sight of the bigger picture in a race for short-term gain.
 
“Residents expect councils to protect their homes and make neighbourhoods nice places to live, and planning regulations exist to do just that. A responsible contractor should want to secure community support and at the very least talk to the council about how its work can tie into the local plan. The drive to meet broadband targets shouldn’t force poorly thought out knee-jerk measures that spoil local environments and needlessly damage roads.”