In response to concerns over delays and rising costs faced by broadband and mobile operators deploying new digital infrastructure into large buildings, the UK government has launched a consultation aimed at reforming certain building control procedures.
This initiative seeks to address issues highlighted by the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, which recently criticized the current processes for causing unnecessary delays and costs—particularly for routine work such as fibre optic cabling and mobile mast installation.
The delays stem from the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) updated approval processes introduced in 2023, which, while intended to improve safety, have inadvertently created red tape that hampers network rollout. These procedural hurdles disproportionately impact routine works on existing buildings, including installing fibre optic cables through fire-resisting walls and repairing or installing mobile masts, often diverting regulatory focus from higher-risk projects like new builds and major remediation efforts.
To tackle these issues, the government’s consultation proposes to dispense with certain procedural requirements of building regulations for specific types of work on existing buildings, notably: drilling holes through internal fire-resisting walls for fibre optic cabling; installing or repairing mobile communication masts.
The goal is to make the approval process more proportionate and efficient, reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining critical safety safeguards. Importantly, dutyholders—individuals or organizations responsible for compliance—would still be required to ensure that all work adheres to the technical and functional standards of the Building Regulations 2010.
The consultation also explores alternative approval routes for fibre optic cabling in non-higher-risk buildings, aiming to focus resources on higher-risk projects. The proposed changes are designed to streamline approval steps at key stages—construction or completion—without compromising safety, allowing faster deployment of vital infrastructure.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) invites stakeholders to submit their views and evidence on these proposals by 11:59 PM on March 24, 2026. If adopted, these reforms could be implemented swiftly within the existing legislative framework, primarily affecting England.
