𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Farmers are “not being listened to” and are suffering rent decreases as Labour tries to plough on with a major rollout, a union has claimed. A national survey of more than 500 landowners, conducted by telecoms investor AP Wireless UK in June, found that 35% of site providers are actively considering walking away, threatening the national rollout of 5G phone masts as thousands of sites that support mobile coverage for millions of households could be lost, ministers are warned.

The impact of these reforms is being felt across a wide range of landowners, from farmers and charities to schools, councils, churches and even NHS trusts, according to experts. A consultation on plans to expand the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act has closed, and responses to that consultation are now being considered, with the Government’s response to be published later this year. The latest proposals build on the Electronic Communications Code, introduced in 2017, which aimed to decrease costs for mobile operators by cutting the rents they pay to host masts and other infrastructure.

National Farmers Union (NFU) Vice-president Rachel Hallos said: “It’s concerning that a significant number of site providers are considering walking away from hosting telecommunications infrastructure as this will undoubtedly damage connectivity at a time when it is most needed for growing farming businesses and the economy.

“However, it is understandable why they may feel like this given what has been reported by our members in terms of rent decreases, behaviours and the disturbance that hosting a mast site can cause.

“Our members do not feel listened to by operators or Government when it comes to having a say over what is happening on their land.”

The survey results follow a joint letter to the Treasury from a coalition of leading property and landowner bodies, including the Country Land and Business Association, National Farmers’ Union, British Property Federation, and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, which called on the Government to halt implementation of the reforms and urgently review the current regime.

Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said: “Many landowners who host mobile phone masts and support vital infrastructure don’t want to pull out of their agreements, but feel like they have little choice.

“Some landowners have endured 90% rent cuts and hostile relationships, so it’s unsurprising that so few want to continue to host masts. As this survey shows, the behaviour of the mast operators has put the UK’s 5G rollout under threat and jeopardised the Treasury’s wider ambitions for economic growth and connectivity.

“To close the unacceptable rural-urban digital divide, the government must work to accelerate rollout, and to do that they must make sure landowners are treated fairly.”

British Property Federation (BPF) Director of Policy (Finance) Ion Fletcher said: “The findings of the survey back up what our members tell us: there is a need for a much more collaborative approach from mast operators. Far too often our members face a lack of engagement to address legitimate concerns after operators make applications and get little or no cooperation from operators where essential building repairs are needed.”

With thousands of lease agreements now approaching renewal, the coalition warns that unless ministers act, the UK faces a wave of site losses that could seriously undermine national 5G ambitions.

Thomas Evans, Executive Vice President at APWireless, said: “This is a clear warning for ministers. Schools, hospitals, councils and farmers all host masts – and many are now prepared to walk away.

“If these proposals go ahead, thousands of sites that support mobile coverage for millions of households could be lost.

“The Government must hit pause and work with landowners, not against them, if it wants to avoid making Britain’s mobile connectivity crisis even worse.”

A DSIT spokesperson said: “Our priority is to continue delivering high quality 5G networks across the UK, which is critical to boosting growth and improving public services for the British people.