I added the bold.
It's more about cost per premises to pass with FTTP and not much to do with areas that need improvement.
Most infill FTTP work is simply cheap and quick to reach, which tends to be urban areas.
These areas usually have at least SuperFast speeds already.
My area is not Fibre First or BDUK work and I'm getting FTTP.
Every single property getting FTTP already has FTTC over 30Mb/s with most nearer 70-80Mb/s.
Every property getting infill FTTP around me has just had Virgin rolled out to the area.
This is more than likely part of the reason for OpenReach doing FTTP, competition.
The fact my area is new and fully ducted makes it much cheaper for OpenReach.
At the end of the day OpenReach is a private company out to make money.
They will continue to roll out to the cheapest/easiest to reach areas.
They will hold off for funding/subsidies for areas that are not commercially profitable which says often areas that actually need improving.
There is also other factors aside from this.
My area has all of the following.
VM cable
Cityfibre FTTP
High density properties
Urban
Yet its not in plans (or at least on checker and announced plans) for FTTP, and the local cabinets have no signs of g.fast work either. So Openreach dont seem to see any urgency here.
However look at other factors that may not be so obvious, but possibly relevant.
Labour council area
City with lowest average salarySome businesses in area mixed in with residential.
Very high take up of VM vs xDSL services. (13 out of 16 visible AP's near me are VM, driving/walking down local street's shows heavy VM dominance of further AP's).
All speculative reasons, but are possible factors.
My area also didnt get VDSL until my MP intervened (she was board member of BT).
Now take into account rural Leicestershire.
Lower population density.
Tory council areas.
Much higher wealth.
They got VDSL without MP intervention about 2 years earlier than the city of Leicester.
They have planned FTTP although not via normal commercial openreach rollout.