§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to revise the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, Schedule 2, Part 24 so far as the citing of mobile phone masts is concerned. [17411]
§ Ms KeebleOn 22 August this year we introduced changes that significantly improved the planning procedures and guidance for telecommunications mast development. The changes, which included, amendments to the 1995 Order
strengthened public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below so that they are the same as for planning applications;increased the time for an authority to deal with prior approval applications to 56 days;underlined that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college; andincreased fees to enable authorities to carry out full public consultation.We have no plans to amend further the planning arrangements for telecommunications development.