£1.2m cash injection for superfast Northamptonshire project will help boost prosperity
Nearly 3,300 homes and businesses in parts of Grange Park, Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone and the town centre will get access to superfast broadband (download speeds above 24Mbps) thanks to an extension of the Superfast Northamptonshire project.
These latest plans have been confirmed by Northamptonshire County Council following its earlier success in securing additional funding for the project including new commitments from local councils agreed last month.
The £1.2m public/private investment comprises £614,000 of public funding including £338,000 from the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme and contributions from South Northamptonshire Council, Northampton Borough Council and Grange Park Parish Council. BT is contributing a further £613,000.
This brings the total public funding secured for the Superfast Northamptonshire programme to more than £20m over the lifetime of the project. It is being invested in stages and through a range of initiatives to extend the roll out of superfast broadband to those parts of the county which fall outside the private sector’s commercial fibre broadband plans.
Over the past few months, the County Council has been working with BT to complete network modelling and design work for the extension plans, which will be delivered as part of the first stage of the Superfast Northamptonshire project, and completed by the end of March 2016.
It is expected that more than 880 properties in Grange Park and more than 2,400 homes and businesses in Northampton will be able to benefit. 180 of these are properties located in the Waterside Enterprise Zone (EZ).
Securing access to superfast broadband is an essential part of the strategy for the EZ to maximise inward investment and indigenous business growth and retention. The plans aim to serve the majority of premises in the EZ, providing speeds up to 80Mbps for those premises located closest to the new fibre cabinets.
The plans are expected to bring the total superfast broadband coverage to be delivered through the first stage of the project to 53,400. It is expected that all of these homes and businesses will benefit from access to superfast broadband speeds of above 24Mbps, with many other properties also gaining access to faster speeds. To upgrade to the faster services when available, people should contact an internet service provider of their choice.
The county council has set an ambitious target to achieve countywide coverage of superfast broadband, working with Government, local partners and telecoms providers.
Over the project’s lifetime, public investment could help to bring superfast broadband to as many as 90,000 homes and businesses across Northamptonshire.
The county council is continuing to bring forward initiatives through the Superfast Northamptonshire project, engaging with BT and the wider telecoms market.
The latest plans can be viewed on the project’s When and Where map atwww.superfastnorthamptonshire.net
COUNTY COUNCIL, BT AND LOCAL PARTNER QUOTATIONS FOR PRESS USE
Cllr Andre Gonzalez De Savage, county council cabinet member for strategic infrastructure and public protection, said: “This is more great news for the county following announcements at Christmas about the extension of plans in some of our rural villages as well as a second major contract with BT. These take superfast plans secured with public investment to over 73,850 premises and when combined with commercial coverage, provides for 95% of premises in the county.
“Securing connectivity for business is critical to support its success and the Northampton Waterside EZ continues to be a key focus for infrastructure investment for the county and borough councils.”
Steve Henderson, BT’s regional director of next generation access said: “More and more small businesses are now trading far beyond just their local area so a fibre broadband connection is a key part of a successful future for the Waterside Enterprise Zone. Equally, those living in Grange Park will be pleased to have access to superfast speeds and the many entertainment and learning opportunities it brings.”
Cllr Dermot Bambridge, South Northamptonshire Council portfolio holder for economic development and regeneration, said: “It is important that as many houses and premises as possible have superfast broadband available to them, and this is why we have supported this particular case.”
Cllr Simon Clifford, South Northamptonshire Council ward member for Grange Park, said: “‘This is fantastic news for us all across Grange Park. I pledged during my election campaign in October that I would make broadband my top priority and I am pleased that by working alongside the Parish Council, District Council and County Council, we have been able to deliver this result. Many people work from home or even run businesses across Grange Park, including many key workers, and this will make a significant difference to all.’
Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “Businesses have an increasing need for superfast connectivity, particularly those operating in knowledge-based sectors.
“The borough already has some of the country’s best superfast broadband coverage, but there is still plenty of work to do if we are to create a level playing field for everyone.
“Ideally, everyone in Northampton will have access superfast broadband in the not-too-distant future.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Superfast Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Council has set an ambitious target that all parts of the county should have access to superfast broadband by the end of 2017. Almost three quarters of all premises in the county (around 230,000) should be served by the commercial superfast broadband plans of private sector telecoms providers without the need for public investment.
Through the Superfast Northamptonshire project, the county council is helping to deliver its full coverage target. The project is focusing public investment to roll out superfast broadband to those parts of the county where it is not commercially viable for the telecoms sector to deliver.
The Northamptonshire Next Generation Strategy (June 2013) set out the county council’s approach to help achieve this, working with and investing alongside telecoms providers. The county council believes that public investment through the project could benefit as many as 90,000 premises across Northamptonshire in its lifetime. Superfast Northamptonshire also involves initiatives which aim to raise awareness about the benefits and applications of superfast broadband to stimulate the take up of services and maximise the impacts of the investment in broadband infrastructure, particularly in support of business growth and the digital economy.
The first stage of the Superfast Northamptonshire project is being delivered through a contract with BT. BT was appointed in March 2013 following a procurement through the Government’s Broadband Infrastructure Delivery Framework. This first stage of the project aims to roll out fibre-based broadband to over 60,950 premises by March 2016, of which over 53,400 will have access to superfast broadband (speeds above 24Mbps). This is made possible through £9m of public funding including £4.08m by the county council and over £4.6m from BDUK . BT is investing £3.9m in these plans. When combined with commercial coverage by the wider telecoms market this provides for around 90% of all premises in Northamptonshire.
A second contract with BT was secured by the county council in November 2014. This commits a further £7.4m of public funds, including £3.4m from BDUK and extends plans for superfast broadband to a further 20,465 premises. BT is investing £3m in this second phase. BT’s phase two roll out plans are due to commence in 2016 when stage one build is completed and is currently programmed to complete in September 2018. This is later than the county council’s full coverage target for the Superfast Northamptonshire project which is aiming for the end of 2017. BT and the county council will work together to explore opportunities and investigate ways in which these plans could be brought forward. When combined with commercial coverage by the wider telecoms market, this takes planned superfast coverage in the county to around 95% of all premises in Northamptonshire.
Further initiatives to extend coverage plans further towards full coverage, engaging with BT and the wider telecoms market, will be brought forward by the county council through the project. More news on this should be available later in 2015.
Go to www.superfastnorthamptonshire.net for more information.
You can follow Superfast Northamptonshire on Twitter @SFastNorthants
More information about telecoms providers operating in Northamptonshire and delivering commercial superfast broadband coverage can be found on the project website.
About Superfast Britain
Superfast Britain is a UK Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race. The portfolio comprises three elements:
• £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017
• £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities
• £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services
Administered on behalf of Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life.
For further information: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk
