Bill ‘threatens natural beauty of countryside’

The Growth and Infrastructure Bill is before the Lords and it contains a clause that could “set a dangerous precedent for protected landscapes”.

Clause 8 of the Bill removes the need for developers to seek approval from the relevant National Park Authority before building broadband infrastructure.

Adam Royle, CPRE’s Senior Parliamentary Officer, told Central Lobby:

“We are concerned that National Park Authorities and local councils in Outstanding Areas of Natural Beauty will not have a proper say over new broadband poles, lines and cabinets in our countryside. They could be thrown up without proper consultation.

“The powers in the Bill are very wide-ranging and broad brush and set a very dangerous precedent for protected landscapes. It suspends the key purpose of national parks to preserve beauty.”

He added: “The Government has not demonstrated there is any problem with the current planning controls.”

Mr Royle is asking peers to back amendments, supported by Lords on all sides of the House, which propose removing the clause from the Bill.

“We hope peers take the chance to press the Government on this issue,” he said.

Mr Royle said local councils and national parks would not want to “stand in the way of new technology” but under the current plans they would be able to look at proposals and suggest changes that would preserve protected landscapes.

He warned that by passing a broad clause such as the one proposed by ministers could set a precedent that could be used in future to build new housing or wind farms.

Former Environment Secretary Lord Deben, formerly John Gummer, has warned against the consequences of the clause.

“So ham-fisted is the arrangement proposed that it opens the way to ugly boxes and masts in the most beautiful countryside without any planning procedure,” he wrote in Planning Magazine.