Question 1

How much does a telecommunications planning application cost?

Accepted Answer

The costs depend on the type of application and the supporting documentation required. A Prior Approval application under Part 16 of the GPDO has a planning fee of £462 (as of 2024). The consultant's fees for preparing the application and supporting documentation — supplementary planning statement, visual impact assessment with photomontages, alternative site selection report, and ICNIRP certificate — typically total between £3,000 and £8,000. Full planning applications for masts in sensitive locations (Conservation Areas, near listed buildings) incur higher fees and more extensive documentation, with total consultant costs typically between £6,000 and £15,000. Appeals, if required, add a further £3,000 to £10,000 depending on the procedure. Connectivity statements for residential developments typically cost between £1,500 and £4,000.

Question 2

How long does the process take?

Accepted Answer

A Prior Approval application under Part 16 has a statutory determination period of 56 days from the date of application. If the LPA does not issue a decision within this period, approval is deemed to be granted. In practice, including pre-application consultation, technical assessment preparation, and the application period, the entire process from instruction to determination typically takes 3 to 4 months. Full planning applications have an 8-week determination period but frequently take longer due to consultation and negotiation. Appeals via written representations typically take 4 to 6 months from submission to decision; hearings and inquiries take longer.

Question 3

Are mobile phone masts a health risk?

Accepted Answer

The UK Government's position, based on the advice of the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) and consistent with the World Health Organization's assessment, is that mobile phone masts operating within ICNIRP guidelines do not pose a health risk to the public. ICNIRP guidelines include substantial safety margins (typically a factor of 50 below the level at which any health effect has been demonstrated). Compliance with ICNIRP guidelines is a mandatory condition of telecommunications permitted development under Part 16 of the GPDO, and ICNIRP compliance certificates are submitted with every application. Planning inspectors have consistently held that health concerns are not a valid reason for refusing telecommunications applications where ICNIRP compliance is demonstrated.

Question 4

Can I object to a phone mast on health grounds?

Accepted Answer

While anyone can submit an objection to a telecommunications planning application, the NPPF explicitly states that LPAs should not set their own health safeguards in addition to the ICNIRP guidelines. Where an installation complies with ICNIRP guidelines, health concerns are not considered a valid planning reason for refusal. Planning inspectors have consistently dismissed appeals where the sole reason for refusal was public concern about health effects. Legitimate planning objections to mast proposals focus on visual impact, siting, design, and the adequacy of the alternative site selection process.

Question 5

What is the difference between Prior Approval and full planning permission?

Accepted Answer

Prior Approval under Part 16 of the GPDO is a streamlined process for telecommunications development that falls within permitted development parameters. The operator has a right in principle to install the equipment, but must notify the LPA and demonstrate compliance with specific conditions (height limits, ICNIRP compliance, siting and appearance). The LPA can only consider a limited range of factors — principally siting and appearance — and has 56 days to determine the application. Full planning permission is required for installations that exceed GPDO parameters (e.g. masts over 25 metres on unprotected land, or any new mast in a Conservation Area) and allows the LPA to consider all material planning considerations. Full applications follow the standard 8-week determination period and can be subject to a wider range of conditions.

Question 6

Do new housing developments need telecommunications infrastructure?

Accepted Answer

The NPPF supports the provision of high-quality digital infrastructure in new developments, and Building Regulations (Approved Document R) require that new buildings are equipped with in-building physical infrastructure to enable connection to broadband networks. Some LPAs go further and require connectivity statements demonstrating that new developments will have adequate mobile and broadband coverage from first occupation. Developers of larger schemes may be required to provide on-site telecommunications infrastructure — ducting, fibre, small cells, or distributed antenna systems — to ensure adequate connectivity. Early engagement with a telecommunications consultant can ensure that connectivity requirements are designed into the scheme from the outset.

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