Changes to existing planning laws could see the faster roll out of 4G and 5G across the UK’s rural areas.

The government has said that reforms to legislation will mean fewer phone masts will be needed to boost 4g and 5G coverage, as telecoms companies will be able to upgrade existing infrastructure over building new masts.

Under the new rules, mobile network operators will have greater freedom to make new and existing phone masts up to five metres taller and two metres wider than current rules permit.

“We’ve all felt the frustration of having the ‘no bar blues’ when struggling to get a phone signal, so we’re changing the law to wipe out mobile ‘not spots’ and dial up the roll out of next-generation 5G,” said Julia Lopez, digital infrastructure minister. “Phone users across the country will benefit - whether they are in a city, village or on the road - and tighter rules on the visual impact of new infrastructure will ensure our cherished countryside is protected.”

The government added that the move will “boost the range of masts, create room for the extra equipment needed for faster networks, and make it easier for operators to share infrastructure”.

“Ensuring as many people as possible, wherever they live in the country, have access to fast, reliable mobile coverage and digital connectivity is crucial to our levelling up vision,” said housing minister Stuart Andrew. “These changes to planning rules will help providers to give more people access to improved 4G and cutting edge 5G coverage, while also protecting our cherished natural landscape.”

The government did say that it would put “tough new legal duties on operators” to minimise the visual impact of their equipment, particularly in national parks, world heritage sites, and conservation areas.

Changes to existing permitted development rights include:

• Existing mobile masts to be strengthened without prior approval, so they can be upgraded for 5G and shared between mobile operators. This would allow increases to the width of existing masts by up to either 50 per cent or two metres (whichever is greatest) and, in unprotected areas, allow increases in height up to a maximum of 25 metres (previously 20 metres). Greater increases will also be permitted subject to approval by the local authority;

• New masts to be built up to five metres higher - meaning a maximum of 30 metres in unprotected areas and 25 metres in protected areas, subject to approval by the planning authority;

• Buildings to host smaller masts (up to six metres in height above building) in unprotected areas without prior approval to accelerate network upgrades and reduce need to build new masts;

• Building-based masts to be set up nearer to public roads subject to prior approval to improve mobile coverage for road users;

• Cabinets containing radio equipment to be deployed alongside masts without prior approval and to allow greater flexibility for installing cabinets in existing compounds (fenced-off sites containing masts and other communications equipment) to support new 5G networks;

• Conditions to ensure telecoms equipment does not block pavements and access to properties.

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