Broadband cabinets: planning permission rule changes

The government is changing planning permission rules to aid the rollout of faster internet speeds across the UK.

This includes permission for firms to install broadband cabinets and other related infrastructure on public land without local councils' permission in England.

It is also consulting about ways to shorten the time it takes to agree approval for cables and cabinet installation on private land UK-wide.

It builds on a previous £680m pledge.

The commitment includes £150m to create 10 "super-connected" cities offering download speeds of at least 80Mbps (megabits per second) by 2015, and £530m from the BBC licence fee to help boost speeds in the countryside.

The overall aim is to offer speeds of at least 24Mbps to more than 90% of the UK to become the "fastest in Europe" within three years.

At that speed it would take 15 minutes to download a 90-minute high definition programme via iPlayer.

The changes are designed to make it easier for BT and others to install 1.4m (4ft 7in) tall cabinets, and retrofit existing ones with new outer shells without running the risk that they will be opposed by the public.

The government said that English councils would only retain the right to object if plans affected a site of special scientific interest.

Internet providers have also been told that they will "face less cost and bureaucracy in laying cables in streets" in England and Wales once officials have found a way to simplify current permit schemes.