Policy I/DI: Digital and telecommunications infrastructure

1. Telecommunications and digital infrastructure development shall be permitted in accordance with other policies within the development plan where, as appropriate to the scale and nature of the development, it is demonstrated that: 

 a. Street clutter is minimised including the number, size, and prominence of equipment cabinets; 

  b. Where on a building, the location and design does not have a detrimental impact to that building’s appearance and setting; 

  c. The proposal has special regard to the natural and historic environment where the quality of the landscape or townscape may be particularly sensitive to the intrusion of communications infrastructure; 

  d. The development does not cause severe harm to the highway, and will not cause detrimental impacts to safety or functioning of active travel infrastructure or highways; and 

  e. There will be no significant and irremediable electromagnetic interference with other electrical equipment, air traffic services, instrumentation operated in the national interest, or other operations and equipment that are sensitive to electromagnetic pollution. 
 

Infrastructure, such as small cell antenna and ducts for cables, that supports fixed and mobile connectivity, therefore underpinning smart technologies.

 

2. The improvement of the digital communications network across

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

, including the provision of digital infrastructure upgrades or community facilities that provide publicly accessible Wi-Fi, will be supported subject to compliance with relevant development plan policies.

3. Proposals for new public and commercial premises should include gigabit-capable connections to each premises, unless an agreement with network operators cannot be reached to provide such a connection due to the remoteness of the site. Where no agreement can be reached, Superfast Broadband may be accepted provided clear evidence is presented to the Local Planning Authority that: 

  a. all reasonable efforts have been made to engage and reach an agreement with network providers; and 

  b. the development has been designed in such a way that it can be adapted to enable the provision of gigabit-capable connectivity in the future. 

4. Provision for high-capacity broadband (such as ducting for cables) should be designed and installed as an integral part of development to minimise visual impact and the potential for future disturbance during maintenance. 

Telecommunications infrastructure 

5. All telecommunications infrastructure should be designed to be capable of responding to changes in technological requirements over the period of the development. Proposals for larger developments and tall buildings should consider the impact of building design on mobile coverage for existing and future occupants and take appropriate action to mitigate any adverse impacts. 

6. Planning applications that include either 30 dwellings or more, or commercial floorspace of 1,000m2 or more must include suitable infrastructure that would support any future rollout of appropriate telecommunications equipment such as small cell mobile communications technology or mobile masts and towers. 

7. Planning applications that include the development of either 250 dwellings or more or 10,000m2 or more commercial floorspace must assess the suitability of mobile coverage in meeting the needs of the proposed development and, where mobile coverage deficiencies are identified, provide details of proposed improvements and agreements with network operators or neutral host providers that address identified mobile coverage deficiencies. 

Fast and reliable digital connectivity is essential in today’s economy and in every aspect of how people live, work and participate in society. As a result, high-quality connectivity is becoming an integral requirement for new developments. Designing this requirement into the development helps mitigate more expensive and disruptive retrofitting of technologies whilst also ensuring that the equipment can be hosted in an appropriate location which will likely speed up deployment. 

Access to fast and adaptable digital and mobile infrastructure is not only important in supporting business growth; network connectivity is increasingly vital in supporting the digital and social inclusion of local residents and the wellbeing of local communities. 

The absence of network connectivity can impact on the educational, employment, financial and health outcomes of individuals and families. Therefore, early provision of high-quality broadband and securing strong mobile coverage also serve an important social function for

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

. In locations where gigabit capable connectivity (download speeds of at least 1 Gigabit) is currently available, the development will be expected to include the infrastructure to connect to these services and make them available to occupiers. 

Proposals for new residential dwellings are required to provide for gigabit-capable network connectivity by Approved Document R:

Includes transport, energy, water, waste, digital/smart, social and green infrastructure.

for Electronic Communications of The

The Building Regulations 2010 cover the construction and extension of buildings, providing the minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building. Building regulations approval is different from planning permission and you might need both for your project.

2010, unless the next fastest broadband speed can be justified on the basis of exemptions stated within The Regulations. Meanwhile, applications for new commercial and community premises are also expected to provide gigabit-capable connections to further support the delivery of high-quality digital connectivity in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

. 

There can be feasibility challenges to the delivery of gigabit-capable connectivity or strong mobile network connectivity in new development, particularly in remote locations that are not readily linked to or covered by existing infrastructure. In situations where securing gigabit-capable connectivity is not feasible with current technology, applicants should demonstrate how their development has been adapted to ensure that it can facilitate high-level digital connectivity in future (such as the installation of ducting within the site for future use). 

The Government has committed to being a world leader in 5G – the next generation of wireless communications technology – with the aim of having the majority of the population benefitting from 5G coverage by 2027.

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s economy is driven by businesses in knowledge-based sectors, with many businesses in the area relying on the use of cutting-edge digital technology. 5G is likely to require improvements to existing infrastructure and the introduction of new mobile infrastructure and small-cell technology in order to provide the capacity needed for the large numbers of users that are expected to require digital support in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

’s near future. 

The design of the development should consider the impact of building design on mobile coverage for existing and future occupants and take appropriate action to mitigate any adverse impacts. Mobile Network Operators utilise a range of technologies to build and improve their networks, such as low-power, short-range wireless transmission (or “small cell”) systems that can cover localised, geographical areas. Small Cells now offer the opportunity to provide more localised improvements where the installation of a large mast, street works monopole or rooftop site would be prohibitively expensive to deploy for a small area requiring mobile coverage improvements. 

Applicants will be expected to provide the following information as part of their planning application: 

  a. Agreements with broadband network operators for the provision of gigabit capable services. Where agreements are not possible, evidence that all reasonable efforts have been made to engage and reach an agreement with network providers and that the development has been designed in such a way that it can be adapted to enable the provision of gigabit-capable connectivity in the future; 

  b. The ways in which digital infrastructure and associated street furniture, such as ducting and broadband street cabinets, have been integrated into the design and layout of the development; and 

  c. Where policy thresholds are met, an assessment of whether the current mobile coverage and capacity is suitable for the proposed new development and details of any agreements with Mobile Network Operators or neutral host providers outlining any improvements that will be delivered as part of the development and how any telecommunications infrastructure will be maintained. 

For major planning applications, the Local Planning Authority will expect the above details to be included as part of a Utilities Statement in line with the requirements in Policy I/ID. For minor planning applications, where required, details can be provided as part of a

A statement that accompanies a planning application to explain the design principles and concepts that have informed the development and how access issues have been dealt with. The access element of the statement should demonstrate how the principles of inclusive design, including the specific needs of disabled people, have been integrated into the proposed development and how inclusion will be maintained and managed.

or Planning Statement for the proposed development. 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  : Topic Paper 8:

  Includes transport, energy, water, waste, digital/smart, social and green infrastructure.

  (2025)

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.