[UPDATE: For the subsequent government response to this consultation, please view this post.]

The government has published the following consultation, which runs for (approx) 10 weeks from 27/08/2019 until 04/11/2019:

• August 2019: Proposed reforms to permitted development rights to support the deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage - Consultation (pdf) (link).

Notes:

• The "Introduction to the consultation" section at the start of the above consultation document includes the following information:
  - "We are now considering further reforms to the planning system in England in order to support the network upgrades that will be required to deploy 5G and to extend network coverage, particularly in rural areas. The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the principle of amending permitted development rights for operators with rights under the Code to support deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage, and the circumstances in which it would be appropriate to do so. The consultation also seeks views on whether it is appropriate to impose specific limitations, conditions and restrictions on any amendments to permitted development rights to mitigate the impact of any new development. As planning is a devolved matter, these proposals relate to England only.".
• Paragraph 15 within the above consultation document states the following:
  - "This consultation seeks views on the principle of amending or creating new permitted development rights to grant planning permission for the following four proposals, and in particular, the circumstances in which it would be appropriate to:
  >>> a. enable deployment of radio housing equipment on land without requiring prior approval, excluding on sites of special scientific interest, to support 5G deployment;
  >>> b. strengthen existing masts to enable sites to be upgraded for 5G and for mast sharing without prior approval;
  >>> c. enable the deployment of building-based masts nearer to highways to support deployment of 5G and extend mobile coverage, subject to prior approval; and
  >>> d. enable higher masts to deliver better mobile coverage and mast sharing, subject to prior approval.".