§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on 3G cellular telephony roll-out of different models of planning controls with regard to masts. [55143]
§ Ms Keeble[holding answer 16 May 2002]: Different approaches to telecommunications planning apply in England and the devolved Administrations. In England, the installation of any telecommunications mast in protected areas, such as national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, sites of special scientific interest and conservation areas, and of masts above 15 metres in height elsewhere, is subject to an application for planning permission for determination by the local planning authority. The installation of masts up to 15 metres in height, elsewhere, would be subject to a prior approval procedure under Part 24 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended). The planning arrangements do not distinguish between different generations of telecommunications equipment. The devolved Administrations have their own planning regulations.
340WOn 22 August last year, following consultation, we introduced changes that significantly improved the planning procedures and guidance for telecommunications mast development in England. Our changes, which included amendments to the 1995 Order, were:
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.These arrangements give authorities more time to consider proposals but with consent deemed to be granted if no decision has been made after 56 days so that development is not delayed.The new arrangements strike the right balance by improving consultation with local people while minimising delay for the rollout of telecommunications networks and giving the 45 million people who use mobile phones the service they want.