London could be losing around £2.7 billion a year, the equivalent of £7.4 million every day, in economic output due to planning measures which force network infrastructure to be taken offline without an appropriate replacement.
- London is losing out on £7.4 million every day in lost economic output as a result of planning rules that force network infrastructure to be taken offline without a replacement, leaving tens of thousands of Londoners without reliable access to mobile connectivity.
- These planning rules affect all mobile network operators, with VodafoneThree alone expecting to be forced to take nearly 100 sites offline by the end of 2026.
- Report calls for London’s redevelopment and connectivity needs to be addressed together in the new London Plan, with the Greater London Authority taking a stronger coordinating role to identify replacement sites earlier and introduce new mechanisms to speed up the replacement of lost mobile infrastructure.
Lost Sites, Lost Signal: The Impact of Notices to Quit on Londoners, commissioned by VodafoneThree, reveals that tens of thousands of Londoners could be living in “functional not spots” – areas without reliable access to mobile data – as a result of planning measures called Notices to Quit (NTQ).
NTQs are legal notices issued by landowners requiring the removal of mobile infrastructure when a building is renovated, redeveloped or demolished. However, replacing a site following an NTQ takes around five years on average, largely due to outdated planning processes and the complexity of securing a new site and relevant permissions. As a result, they create lengthy periods of reduced or lost signal for local communities.
The report highlights the scale of the issue for mobile network operators across the capital. Despite growing reliance on connectivity, around one in five London high streets have a functional not-spot, while approximately 60 rail, Underground or Overground stations are estimated to be affected by an NTQ at any one time, including three of London’s five busiest National Rail stations.
VodafoneThree alone expects to be forced to take nearly 100 sites offline by the end of 2026, underscoring the need for planning reform to ensure connectivity is protected when a building is renovated, redeveloped or demolished.
While operators typically receive 18 months’ notice, replacing a site often takes far longer, creating a significant risk of coverage loss. To help prevent this, developers and planning authorities should engage mobile operators at the earliest stages of the planning process, including pre-application stage, and should work proactively with operators to identify replacement sites in order to maintain connectivity throughout redevelopment projects.
At a national level, extending the permitted duration of temporary mobile sites to 36 months would also help protect connectivity while permanent replacements are delivered.
Andrea Dona, Chief Networks Officer, VodafoneThree, said: “London’s strength has always rested on its ability to connect people to: jobs, ideas, markets, culture, transport and each other. In the 21st century, that connectivity is digital as well as physical.
“Mobile networks are critical national infrastructure. When that infrastructure is removed before replacements are in place, local communities can face years of reduced connectivity, which ultimately costs London billions in economic output. This is not an investment challenge. We’re investing heavily in improving connectivity, but outdated planning processes mean sites can be forced offline far more quickly than they can be replaced.
“The good news is that this is fixable. We welcome the growing recognition of NTQs as an issue and support efforts to ensure connectivity is considered from the earliest stages of the planning process. With earlier notice and a more joined-up approach across the entire planning system, London can continue to grow and redevelop while ensuring people stay connected.”
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Notes to Editors:
About ‘Lost Sites, Lost Signal: The Impact of Notices to Quit on Londoners‘
Polling Methodology: Survation surveyed 1,008 adults aged 18+ across London between 15 and 20 May 2026 via an online panel. Results were weighted to be representative of London’s adult population by age, sex, ethnicity, region of London, zone, highest level of qualification and household income. Data was collected, analysed and weighted by Survation.
Economic Modelling: Economic impact estimates were calculated using Geolytix town classifications and population data to assign productivity values to areas affected by NTQ sites, with impacts assessed according to the number of mobile sites serving each location.
