New build homes to have superfast broadband connectivity Clive, Minister Brandon Lewis and the House Builder Federation (HBF) are jointly announcing a new agreement today to provide fibre to all new build sites.
They will be at a new site in Bury St Edmunds to announce the scheme, which aims to deliver fibre broadband infrastructure to new build properties in the UK.
Here are the key points within the agreement –
•We will offer fibre based broadband to all new developments either for free or as part of a co-funded initiative. We estimate that more than half of all new build properties can be connected to fibre broadband free of charge to developers.
•We’ll work with the developers in a more co-ordinated manner, for example by encouraging homebuilders to register a new build development with us at the land purchase stage or beginning of the planning process. This means the broadband infrastructure should be in place when customers move into their new homes.
•We are introducing an online planning tool for homebuilders – the connectivity assessment tool. This will tell them whether properties in a given development can be connected to fibre for free, or whether a contribution is needed from the developer to jointly fund the deployment of the local fibre network.
•From today, the housing industry will have access to a ‘rate card’ from us which details the fixed cost contributions required by homebuilders in those cases where a co-funded model is required. We will make a significant contribution ourself before seeking any funds from developers.
•The co-funding scheme is entirely voluntary and if homebuilders decide not to take up our offer the development will be connected to copper broadband for free.
With the support of the HBF we’ve delivered a series of measures to give developers greater clarity, choice and more funding.
Full details are available on the developers' website (
http://www.newdevelopments-openreach.co.uk/ ) where you can also find FAQs.
This is a further step to Building Britain’s connected future and closer to our ambition of giving 100% service to all people moving into their new home.
Kim Mears
MD, Infrastructure Delivery
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