Purpose and status
This is an internal drafting framework only. It is not an external response and must not be submitted or circulated outside Northstar without approval. The consultation closed on 24 March 2026 and the government response has already been published.
Proposed Northstar view, subject to validation
Northstar supports proportionate building-control requirements for telecommunications work where they maintain resident safety while removing unnecessary duplication and improving certainty for infrastructure delivery.
The final arrangements should:
- provide a clear and consistently applied route for fibre-optic cabling and mobile-mast work;
- identify which building types, projects and approval routes are covered;
- avoid parallel approval processes or repeated evidence submissions;
- provide clear treatment for applications already in progress;
- explain any conditions, exclusions, notifications and supporting information required; and
- preserve appropriate safety, environmental and community safeguards.
Evidence to insert before any approved use
- Exact changes made by the government response.
- Operative wording and scope of each Direction.
- Implementation and transitional dates.
- Evidence from Northstar projects showing current and expected effects on timelines and consenting certainty.
- Legal confirmation that the arrangements do not create a new duplicated approval route.
Internal approval route
Legal and Operations should validate the technical and project implications first. Public Affairs should then determine whether the material warrants an update to the Planning Reform stakeholder brief or further engagement with MHCLG, the Building Safety Regulator, local authorities or registered building-control approvers. Any external engagement requires separate approval.