Provision of Estates Professional Management Services (EPMS)

Since the early 2000s, the LFC’s estate has supported hosting Mobile Network Operators (MNO) electronic communications installations. New legislation introducing the Electronic Communications Code 2017, hereafter referred to as ‘The Code’, has significantly deteriorated the benefits to landowners and the income that landlords can generate, whilst increasing the powers MNOs have to acquire sites. This benefits the government’s targets in improving national telecommunications infrastructure.

Across the LFC estate, 59 fire stations have 79 lease agreements for telecoms installations with multiple MNOs on site for 20 stations. Their equipment is in various locations, from drill training towers to the roofs of fire stations and in some cases stand-alone antennas. Since 2022, Estates Professional Management Services (EPMS) for the Telecommunications Estate have been procured separately with the primary objective of minimising impacts on fire station operations and uses in respect of MNOs and their access to works/alterations on LFC sites.

Currently the LFC has no lease agreements agreed that are covered by The Code, however the impacts of new legislation are due to occur for LFC in 2025/26 with the imminent signing of new lease agreements. Any current leases that have expired are holding over outside The Code and therefore the old (higher) rents are currently being paid. The introduction of The Code provides MNOs with the power to install and keep installed their equipment on private land. LFC can only terminate the Agreement in very limited and specific grounds: -

• by providing evidence to redevelop all or part of the land and giving at least 18 months' notice,
• substantial breaches by the MNO of its obligations under the Agreement;
• persistent delays in making payments;
• the MNO is not entitled to an agreement in the first place because its test justifying the need for the site has not been proven.