Telegraph Poles: Planning Permission

In the House of Commons adjournment debate, Laurence Turner, the Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield, raised concerns about the lack of consultation with residents over the installation of telegraph poles for broadband infrastructure in his constituency. He acknowledged the importance of improving broadband connectivity, but argued that the current permitted development regime has led to the inappropriate siting of telegraph poles in urban areas, with limited recourse for affected residents. Turner highlighted specific examples in his constituency, such as the installation of four telegraph poles on a quiet cul-de-sac in Pineview, and the obstruction caused by poles in Lovell Close and the Bournville conservation area. He argued that the current code of practice for cabinet and pole siting is inadequate, as it relies on voluntary adherence by broadband providers and fails to provide sufficient redress for residents. Responding on behalf of the government, the Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, Chris Bryant, acknowledged that while the vast majority of broadband providers are operating responsibly, a few are "behaving like cowboys." He stated that the government is not completely relaxed about the issue of overbuild, where multiple providers are installing their own infrastructure, and that a new, tougher code of practice will be published in the new year. The Minister emphasized the importance of shared infrastructure and cooperation between providers, and indicated that the government is willing to change the law if voluntary adherence to the code of practice does not work. He also noted Ofcom's ongoing investigation into alleged failures by the provider Brsk to comply with notification requirements, and expressed a desire to meet with the company to discuss the concerns raised by MPs. Other Labour MPs, such as Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham Edgbaston), Alex Ballinger (Halesowen), and Cat Eccles (Stourbridge), echoed the issues raised by Turner and called for better community engagement and the use of existing underground infrastructure where possible. The Minister acknowledged the shared concerns across the region and the need for a balanced approach that supports the roll-out of broadband while addressing the legitimate concerns of residents.