Government dispensations will preserve resident safety while addressing operators’ frustrations with their ability to carry out minor, low-risk work to fixed and mobile networks
Addressing unintended consequences of the UK’s building control regime
On 9 July 2026, the UK Government, via the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), published its response to its January 2026 consultation on improving proportionality and safety outcomes in building control in the context of telecoms-related work. The consultation sought views on proposals to refine the application process for some types of work within the higher-risk building (HRB) regime, which came into effect in October 2023 and introduced reforms to building safety following the Grenfell Tower fire in London in June 2017. For building work to fibre infrastructure, this also includes the local authority and registered building control approvers routes for non-HRBs. In particular, the consultation considered changes to the processes for the installation of fibre cabling and for building work related to mobile masts, with the aim of addressing the limitations and “some unintended consequences” of the current system, while ensuring that regulatory processes remain proportionate, effective and focused on maintaining resident safety.
A House of Lords committee found that current rules may be holding up the rollout of digital infrastructure
MHCLG’s consultation was triggered by a December 2025 report from the cross-party House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, which warned that “unacceptable” delays caused by the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) approval processes were leaving residents waiting for remediation of dangerous cladding in unsafe buildings and increasing costs for leaseholders, while also hampering the rollout of digital infrastructure. The report stated that the committee had heard evidence from stakeholders in the telecoms sector, including ISPA, Mobile UK and the Mobile Infrastructure Forum, regarding delays to deployments of fibre and mobile networks since the creation of the BSR – now an arm’s-length body under MHCLG – and its its slow processing of applications for minor works, potentially risking access to connectivity for households living in HRBs (defined as buildings containing at least two residential units, care homes and hospitals, which have seven or more storeys, or are at least 18 metres high). The BSR itself told the committee that it may be possible for certain organisations, such as operators, to be allowed to group applications together in order to make the installation of equipment in multiple buildings more efficient.
The Government will grant operators dispensation to undertake certain work on fixed and mobile networks
As a result, the Government has now confirmed dispensations from BSR approval processes for certain telecoms work in high-rise buildings, which will apply in England only and take effect on 1 September 2026. Specifically, it has given directions to relax regulation in respect of building work that solely consists of the:
Installation of a mobile mast on a rooftop of an existing HRB (but not external walls) and any ancillary connections or associated works required for that installation; and
Drilling of holes 25mm or less in diameter in internal or external walls (but not floors or ceilings) for the installation of only fibre cabling in existing HRBs and existing buildings that are not HRBs.
The dispensations relating to fibre cabling will expire after three years, although those relating to mobile masts are not time limited. The Government’s announcement has been welcomed by ISPA, which had led an industry working group focused on identifying a workable solution to the impact the BSR’s regime was having on minor, standardised, low-risk telecoms installation work. According to ISPA, the dispensations represent “a step in the right direction” that will help accelerate the network upgrades needed to meet the Government’s target of nationwide gigabit-capable broadband coverage by 2032. However, given that they remain subject to conditions (e.g. around firestopping, weatherproofing and soundproofing) ISPA will continue to work with all parties to ensure that infrastructure is deployed safely and efficiently.
