Nimby Block On Superfast Broadband ?

11 Aug 2009 | 16.00 Europe/London

Haringey Council has refused planning permission for some Openreach FTTC cabinets in the Muswell Hill trial area, on the basis that the cabinets are big and don't look very nice. Some of them also reduce the footpath width to the point where a 2m wide 4x4 pushchair won't pass. In some cases the refused permission relates to cabinets that have already been installed. Muswell Hill residents association and Conservation Area Committee raised objections to the 1600mm (Height) x 1200mm (Width) x 450mm (Depth) cabinets.

In general planning permission is not required for plant and machinery less than 15m high, however the rules are different in conservation areas and Openreach have to apply to the Council to see if they need to apply for full planning permission. In some cases they are effectively being told "yes and you won't get it, so here's a refusal".

Broadband enthusiasts throughout the land will be putting up their hand to volunteer to receive the VDSL cabinets offering connection speeds downstream of 15-40 Mbits/s. Those in Muswell Hill may like to consider writing to their planners in support of Openreach's applications.