The arrival of 5G mobile networks in Scotland could lead to dramatically taller phone masts in protected areas as planning rules are relaxed, conservationists have warned.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said current plans could lead to “thoughtless and insensitive” development at protected sites with no need for planning permission.
The change is contained in new regulations on Permitted Development Rights (PDRs), which were laid at Holyrood in December and are set to come into force in the spring.
Under the proposals, developers would have the right to extend existing phone masts up to 30m, 50m or 60m tall in protected areas, depending on their current height.
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The change has been prompted by the arrival of 5G networks, whose signals carry more data but are weaker than existing ones, leading to a requirement for more or taller phone masts.
Mast extensions would get little scrutiny
While new masts will be banned in protected areas, the NTS is worried that the extension of existing ones and the creation of new ones in other areas could have “far reaching” impacts.
A public consultation on the subject was conducted, but the issue has attracted very little debate as the changes do not require a headline bill at Holyrood, only secondary legislation.
In a blog on the subject earlier this year, NTS policy officer Rebecca Millar said it was concerned the changes “may have unintended but significant impacts on our natural, built and cultural heritage”.
She added: “Removing the scrutiny of the planning system will jeopardise the integrity of our most valued heritage, as local authorities will no longer be able to stop thoughtless and insensitive development at protected sites.”
Diarmid Hearns, head of public policy at the NTS, described the new regulations as a “blunt” tool that gave developers “almost carte blanche” to do as they liked.
He said he hoped that the issue would be properly debated by MSPs, as they went to the heart of what price people were willing to pay for better mobile coverage.
“Would people expect to get 5G reception on top of Cairngorm, for example? Or are you expecting to go to a wild area and not get those same services?” he said. “We’ve not really had that discussion yet.”
‘Incremental increases’ to height limits
Planning minister Kevin Stewart said the changes would lead to “incremental increases to height and width limits for extensions to existing telecommunications masts”.
He added: “The extension of PDRs for digital connectivity will assist in supporting and enhancing the roll-out of vital and improved digital communications for all regions of Scotland.
“This has become even more vital during the coronavirus pandemic and will particularly support working from home and economic development in remote and rural communities.
“We fully appreciate the tensions between supporting connectivity, with its economic and climate change benefits, and the potential environmental impact in sensitive areas.
“That is why, when consulting on these changes, we decided not to include a proposal to introduce PDRs for new masts in any designated areas in the recent consultation.”
