Building control procedures for some telecoms works could be relaxed, following industry concerns over delays and compliance burdens.<\/p>\n
Officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the higher-risk building (HRB) control regime had created unintended consequences, with routine telecoms tasks now subject to the same oversight as complex, high-risk projects.<\/p>\n
The regime, introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022, requires sign-off from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) for work such as installing fibre-optic cables or repairing mobile masts in HRBs.<\/p>\n
The department <\/span>said it was never intended that these requirements would apply to such low-complexity works.<\/p>\n The department has now launched a consultation into plans to relax the regulations.<\/p>\n HRBs are defined as residential blocks, care homes or hospitals at least 18 metres or seven storeys high.<\/p>\n Routine fibre and mast works are typically carried out at high volumes and are now seen as disproportionately restricted by current rules, the department said.<\/p>\n Evidence from the industry showed the approval process was causing financial and operational difficulties.<\/p>\n \u201cHigh-volume applications combined with comprehensive procedural requirements place significant strain on building control resources,\u201d the consultation document says.<\/p>\n \u201cThis diverts capacity away from the highest-risk activities, such as remediation projects, and may slow down essential work.\u201d<\/p>\n The department is proposing to remove procedural requirements for drilling holes through internal fire-resisting walls to install fibre-optic cabling, both in HRBs and non-HRBs.<\/p>\n The current process represents \u201ca potentially unreasonable and disproportionate and impractical burden for internet service provision providers\u201d, the the consultation document says.<\/p>\n Technical and safety standards under the Building Regulations 2010 would remain in place.<\/p>\n For mobile mast work, the proposals apply only to HRBs. While the department acknowledged the work was generally low-risk, it warned poor installation could compromise compartmentation or load-bearing structures.<\/p>\n It proposes keeping some control measures, including the requirement for a completion certificate. Prior approval from the BSR would not be needed under the new approach.<\/p>\n The consultation, which runs until 24 March 2026, also seeks views on whether new competent person schemes should be introduced for fibre and mast works.<\/p>\n However, the department said such schemes would take time to establish and it is only gathering evidence at this stage.<\/p>\n The department said it consulted the BSR and industry experts before launching the proposals, and said that any reforms would require work to maintain compliance with Building Regulations.<\/p>\n