Dr Lisa Hutchinson
ACHES has written to local councils and planning authorities concerning potential harms caused to the public by the installation of wireless and 5G telecommunication infrastructures. It should be emphasized that environmental health is a crucial material planning consideration that influences local authority decisions. Key environmental health factors include many elements such as air quality, noise, vibration, and land contamination — among others. Local Planning Authorities (LPA) evaluate these factors to ensure new developments do not cause unacceptable harm to public health. Therefore, it is alarming that this consideration is entirely absent with regards to wireless and 5G telecommunications planning. Recently, a member of the public wrote to the The National Planning Inspectorate (NPI) regarding appeals for mast applications submitted to LPA. The response from the NPI was as follows:
Local Planning Appeals: No New Evidence
From 1 April 2026, most planning appeals made on applications submitted to LPAs on or after that date will follow a simplified Part 1 written representations process. The Regulations remove the ability to submit new evidence under the Part 1 written representations route. This expands the existing ‘expedited’ process — currently used for householder and minor commercial appeals. This includes the opportunity for interested parties to comment further on the appeal itself. The new process aims to speed up decision-making, reduce duplication, and encourage complete and robust planning applications at the LPA stage.
The response continued: for appeals for applications dated before 31 March 2026, see below link for the Procedural Guide: Planning appeals – England.
For appeals for applications dated on or after 1 April 2026, see below link for the latest process:
The Inspector decides the appeal based solely on the information submitted with the original planning application unless there are exceptional and material changes in circumstance. No new evidence can normally be introduced at the appeal stage. The Regulations remove the ability to submit new evidence under the Part 1 written representations route. As most appeals will follow Part 1, it is requested only the essential upfront information needed to decide the appropriate route.
ESTHER LIST
The above summary explains why it is very important that we find the planning applications in the first place, and include all our evidence in the original objection. One advantage is that there is less to do when an appeal arises. Please take a look through examples on the ESTHER website: www.estherslist.org for example suggestions. There are some objections that apply to every single application. Currently, a comprehensive list of different objections is being created. There is also a list of basic objections, as well on our website. All new users first need to register onto the site so they can be set up with a login/password to access the letters and objection examples to enable the site to be more easily maintained. Registration takes only a few minutes and is free.
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