§ Jane GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that planning permission is required from a local authority to erect(a) a radio and (b) a mobile phone mast under 15 metres high. [55657]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants a general planning permission for certain telecommunications masts providing that
the mast is erected by a telecommunications code system operator licensed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the Telecommunications Act 1984;the mast does not exceed 15m in height;the mast is not erected in a National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation area, or the Broads; andthe mast is not refused prior approval by the local planning authority within the period allowed under the Order. The authority must be given the opportunity to say whether they wish to approve, within 28 days, details of the mast's siting and appearance. The authority may refuse approval if they consider there to be a serious threat to amenity.A full application for planning permission is normally required for any mast which does not meet these criteria. We have recently consulted on a proposal to make masts erected within a site of special scientific interest subject to a full planning application and are currently considering the responses received. Apart from this proposal, we have no plans to extend the current requirements for full applications for planning permission for telecommunications masts.