The Manx government is seeking views on its draft planning changes to allow the installation of 5G mobile services in the island.

A public consultation has opened as the government wishes to bring in a new Telecommunications Development Order so that planning permission can be acquired for larger-scale telecommunications structures. This includes 5G and fibre optics technology.

The order intends to make it easier to install smaller-scale telecommunications equipment, ensuring that the prior approval process is ’quick and efficient’ in identifying proposals that are unlikely to have an impact and so will be able to proceed as permitted.

Proposals that require greater scrutiny would need to go through a full planning application.

The draft order states that developments would only be permitted by telecommunications code operators, and must have an International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) certificate if one is required.

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Developments would not be permitted if: it’s within an area of special scientific interest, a registered building or ancient monument; it could negatively impact the airport; or would remove trees.

The 2019 draft order would place restrictions on some forms of development ’within 20 metres of the primary window of a residential property, within conservation areas or within nine metres of a designated watercourse’.

Size restrictions on certain developments would also be placed.

Having opened earlier this month, the eight-week long consultation will close on August 5 ahead of it going before Tynwald.

The Cabinet Office hopes its proposal - which would replace an existing order approved in 2013 - will help ’our community and businesses receive the most modern and comprehensive mobile phone service and coverage, which helps make our lives easier and businesses more profitable’.

The proposal refers to the Programme for Government, which has a number of goals including its commitment to ’ensure we are a digital island, ready for technologies like 5G, so we remain competitive, now and in the future’.

However, a number of residents have expressed their concerns about the new technology of 5G and the potential implications it could have on the health of people, plants and insects. We reported on May 30 in the Manx Independent that about 360 signatures were collected to halt 5G technology installations in the island for want of better research.

Responding to these concerns was public health director Henrietta Ewart. She said: ’5G will be regulated to comply with the ICNIRP guidelines. 5G does not mean that we will be exposed to higher or stronger levels of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).’

She stated the impact of RF-EMF on health has been monitored by health regulatory agencies around the world over many years.

Find the consultation here: https://consult.gov.im/cabinet-office/telecommunications-development-order/