BusinessLDN’s Growth Commission—a heavyweight cohort of leaders from across the capital—unveiled a decisive action plan to turbocharge London’s economy. Their message was clear: if we want to move London out of the "slow lane," we must remove the regulatory barriers holding the city back.

At Mobile UK, we wholeheartedly endorse this vision. However, there is a fundamental truth that must underpin any plan for London’s growth: there is no economic growth without digital, and specifically mobile growth. From the fintech hubs of the City to the creative clusters in Hackney, London’s competitive edge relies on world-class, ubiquitous 5G connectivity.

Aligning the Ambition: Planning for Prosperity

BusinessLDN is calling for a planning system that accelerates housebuilding and digital infrastructure. We agree. For too long, the rollout of mobile masts and cells has been treated as a "nice-to-have" rather than essential infrastructure on par with transport and energy.

In our recent submissions to the government on planning reform, Mobile UK has been clear: the current system is outdated. It was designed for a pre-5G era and now inadvertently hinders the very upgrades London needs. As BusinessLDN identifies the need to "reduce bottlenecks," we point to the 95% of network activity that now focuses on upgrading existing sites. Small, technical changes to Permitted Development Rights (PDR) could unlock billions in GDP by getting 5G Standalone (5GSA) live faster.

A ‘Mobile Plan for London’: Catering to a Unique Character

London isn't like other cities. Its unique characteristics—high-density living, a concentration of heritage assets, and a complex "rooftop economy"—require a bespoke approach. We cannot have a "one-size-fits-all" national policy that ignores the nuances of the capital.

We are calling for a Mobile Plan for London that:

• Recognises Urban Densification: London needs more than just "coverage"—it needs capacity. The volume of data used by Londoners means we must densify networks in ways that are sympathetic to the skyline but effective for users.

• Integrates Connectivity into the Public Realm: Digital infrastructure should be a "front-of-mind" consideration for developers from day one, ensuring the city's digital lifeblood is protected as it evolves.

Tackling the NTQ Issue

A major hurdle to London’s connectivity is the Notice to Quit (NTQ) issue. As the city redevelops, operators are often forced to remove equipment with very limited time to find suitable replacement sites—a process that is uniquely difficult in London’s dense landscape. To prevent coverage gaps, the planning system must be updated to extend temporary deployment time and, crucially, place a formal obligation on developers to engage with mobile operators through the planning system before development. This engagement should be a mandatory requirement whenever a proposed development could impact existing network infrastructure, ensuring that physical growth does not come at the expense of digital reliability.

The Path Forward

The BusinessLDN action plan is a welcome wake-up call. But to truly "shift the dial" on growth, we must ensure that London’s digital foundations are as solid as its physical ones.

By working with London, the Mayor and the GLA on its London Plan, and reforming the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to elevate the status of essential mobile infrastructure and creating a planning environment that seeks to manage NTQs, we can ensure London remains the best place in the world to do business.

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