The Superfast Essex programme can only invest in premises that were consulted on as part of the Open Market Review (OMR) held in July 2016 in which the programme asked broadband network operators to provide information about where superfast broadband coverage is available and planned to be made available within the next three years. This was in order to identify the remaining areas of market failure that are eligible for investment and inclusion in future phases of the Superfast Essex programme. A baseline of premises across Essex was taken at that time from the Ordnance Survey address-base data-set. Any premises not in the data-set at that time were not consulted on and therefore are not part of the programme currently.
New build premises will begin to appear on the Superfast Essex interactive rollout map at six-weekly intervals in line with receiving Ordnance Survey address-base revisions.
The programme is continually monitoring new housing developments and new build properties in an attempt to track these premises, even though at this time we are unable to invest in them under the programme’s plans.
Residents in new build properties that do not feature as part of the current baseline data-set can still register their demand for faster broadband at www.superfastessex.org/registerdemand. If the programme were to hold a new OMR in the future and create a revised State Aid map of broadband coverage, then the premises will be able to be included in future plans. There are no plans for this to happen as yet. The The next steps for the programme will be announced at www.superfastessex.org/whatshappeningnext when known.
It's worth noting the Superfast Essex programme was introduced as part of the Government’s national Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme, which aims to improve broadband connectivity in existing rural areas rather than to provide fibre broadband to new developments being built.
Provision for broadband in new developments is considered to be the responsibility of the developer and Superfast Essex is trying to encourage building developers and local district and borough councils, responsible for planning, to consider broadband provision as another utility which should be installed as a standard requirement along with gas and electricity. Some Essex local planning authorities have already begun to incorporate broadband requirements into their local planning guidelines, which is good progress.
Openreach, Virgin Media and other network operators run new housing sites schemes and will work with building developers to provide broadband services, however it does require some effort on the part of the developer to engage with the process.
Unfortunately, at this time, there isn’t any legislation in place to make it compulsory for developers to ensure broadband provision. Essex County Council will continue to work with the government and local planning authorities to encourage better infrastructure planning in the future.
Once the Superfast Essex programme becomes aware of these areas of market failure within the county, it aims to include eligible premises without access to superfast broadband within future rollout plans. As above, if you have not already registered your demand for superfast broadband, you can complete the Make the Connection survey.
You may be interested in finding out more about Broadband Delivery UK's (BDUK) broadband funding support schemes to see what other options are available to help provide access to faster broadband.
The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme
The Government has launched a new scheme aimed at increasing access to full fibre broadband networks across the UK.
Gigabit vouchers can be used by small and medium-sized businesses and the local communities surrounding them to contribute to the installation cost of a gigabit capable connection.
Businesses can claim up to £2,500 against the cost of connection either individually or as part of a group project. Residents can benefit from the scheme as part of a group project which also includes businesses, and can claim for a voucher of up to a value of £500.
Find out more about what the scheme entails and if you may be eligible for a subsidy voucher at www.superfastessex.org/gigabitvoucher.
Recently, additional criteria has been added to make even more funding available in rural locations for residents in groups of two or more, without the need for a business within the application, to also support the installation costs of full fibre broadband. There is more information at: www.superfastessex.org/ruralvoucher. Following the links to BDUK's website will help show if you're eligible.
Lastly, the government has some guidance options on its website which may be of interest regarding other community-led schemes.