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The Telecoms Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, recently issued an important update on their efforts to boost growth by removing barriers to digital infrastructure deployment. The statement covered progress with flexi-permits and softening the rules for new mobile masts, but it also touched on how they intend to help get gigabit broadband into large residential buildings (blocks of flats / apartments).
The government’s recent 2025 Spending Review and 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy have already touched on some of the above topics. But Bryant’s latest statement also managed to add a few details about the Government’s plans that we hadn’t seen before.
For example, on the issue of adopting a more flexible permitting system (flexi-permits) for broadband related street works across England, Bryant said they expect to see the results from the evaluation of their most recent trial of this system in October 2025.
“Should that demonstrate positive results, we will promptly consult on the necessary legislative changes,” said the minister. Flexi permits mean that network builders can apply to local authorities for a single permit covering a wide geographical area, instead of numerous separate street applications.
Separately, mobile operators have long been pushing the government to make further changes in order to make it easier for them to deploy new mobile masts (here, here, here, here, here and here), albeit so far with only limited success. But Bryant said he would shortly publish a Call for Evidence on Permitted Development (PD) rights “as soon as possible“, which may “enable faster deployment” in the future.
Finally, Bryant also touched on the government’s approach to making it easier to deploy gigabit broadband into large residential buildings (blocks of flats / MDUs), particularly those where such deployments have been unreasonably refused or landlords cannot be contacted.
The government recently rejected an amendment about this in the Renters’ Rights Bill (here), although at the time they did pledge to examine what other interventions might be possible and Bryant said they plan to consult on related measures by the autumn.
The details on the above as still wafer thin, but the plans seem to be focused on creating a “new right for leaseholders to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders not to unreasonably refuse the request“.
Sir Chris Bryant said:
“To overcome barriers to deployment of gigabit-capable infrastructure in blocks of flats, we will consult on measures by the autumn to create a new right for leaseholders to request a gigabit broadband connection and a duty for freeholders not to unreasonably refuse the request. Working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, we would seek to legislate for any resulting measures when parliamentary time allows.
Work is underway to ensure that delays arising from the higher risk building safety regime are addressed as soon as possible. We are working closely with the telecoms sector to understand the scale of the impact on telecoms deployment specifically, alongside developing appropriate remedies which will support the continued investment and rollout of 5G and gigabit broadband while upholding the government’s commitment to building safety.
We will accelerate the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband by tackling barriers to the deployment of underground broadband infrastructure. We have trialled the use of flexi-permits for street works and will see the results of the evaluation in October. Should that demonstrate positive results, we will promptly consult on the necessary legislative changes.
We will consider areas where planning laws and guidance might be changed to facilitate the deployment of mobile masts. To that end, we will publish a call for evidence on Permitted Development Rights as soon as possible. Subject to feedback received, any resulting measures designed to enable faster deployment of telecommunications infrastructure will be implemented as quickly as possible.”
All of the proposed measures are likely to have their detractors, particularly those within local communities who always object to new masts for a variety of reasons (visual impact, unsubstantiated health fears etc.).
Similarly, on the subject of flats/apartments, property owners will also have concerns that must be balanced in all this (i.e. insurance, conflicts with existing exclusivity agreements, damage to property, security, safety [e.g. fire, asbestos] and other liabilities etc.). Sometimes upgrading copper lines to fibre in MDUs (Multi-Dwelling Units) is a bit more involved than it may first seem.
Equally, some alternative networks would be concerned about any changes that might give Openreach an unfair advantage in the market, while a few others MPs have already raised concerns that the changes might allow network operators to force their installation costs onto property owners.
Some supplier-neutral technology solutions do already exist in the market that claim to overcome the problem of tackling tricky MDUs. But it remains unclear whether the proposed changes might benefit or hinder those.
