Concern for Broadband Poles in Conservation Areas

A local councillor cautioned that local authorities might lack the authority to prevent the installation of poles in conservation areas.

16:14 03 January 2024

A spokesperson from Connexin has disclosed that they are finalizing plans for Cottingham, while a local councillor expresses concerns about the removal of protections for historic areas in the East Riding. According to East Riding Cllr Phil Redshaw, the confirmation of the removal of legal safeguards has triggered a surge of 27 applications for the installation of broadband poles in Cottingham's conservation area. Connexin is currently in discussions with East Riding Council to determine the most suitable course of action.

Cllr Redshaw's alert regarding Cottingham and the broader East Riding region comes after the council sought legal advice on how permitted development rules applied in conservation areas. The company, Connexin, maintains that they are coordinating with the council to reach an agreement on the proposed plans for Cottingham.

Simultaneously, Hull councillors are urging the government to address the disorderly situation where broadband companies can install poles without adhering to the regular planning system. In a letter endorsed by all 32 Liberal Democrats on Hull City Council, they advocate for affected residents to have a decisive say in the approval of installations. The government, in response, emphasizes the need for a planning system that balances conservation efforts with the necessity for swift and flexible development. Meanwhile, an East Riding Council document reveals that changes implemented in 2016 to the Electronic Communications Code have aligned the rules for conservation areas with those for other locations, giving households and councils a standard 28-day period to raise objections based on obstruction and other legally recognized issues.