§ Viscount Dilhorneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will issue a consultation paper on planning controls over satellite television antennas.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Hesketh)My right honourable friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales have today issued a consultation paper on permitted development rights for satellite television antennas.
The Government are fully committed both to protecting the environment and to facilitating the growth of telecommunications. There have been major changes since the present planning regime for satellite television dishes was introduced in the mid-80s. We need to provide better safeguards for the visual environment, respond to the growth in satellite 426WA broadcasting, and take advantage of the development of smaller antennas. The consultation paper sets out a range of options. Any extension of specific planning permission should in our view be balanced by additional controls over unnecessarily obtrusive installations, particularly in sensitive areas.