Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending planning regulations for telecommunication infrastructure upgrades to allow objections to be considered where masts or cabinets are to be located on an existing footpath or cycleway and where sufficient space for the proposed infrastructure is available adjacent to the proposed site.

Through our UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy the government has set a new ambition of nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030, as well as outlining our commitment to extending 4G coverage to 95% of the UK's landmass.

On 4 April 2022 amendments to Part 16 of the General Permitted Development Order 2015 came into force to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage.

Alongside these amendments, we published a new Code of Practice for wireless network development. This sets out guidance for Mobile Network Operators and infrastructure providers, their agents and contractors, local planning authorities, and all other relevant stakeholders in England. Guidance is included in the Code of Practice on site selection, and minimising obstructions on footways, which operators should follow.