Slow Broadband on New Build Estates

Councillor urge house developers to install broadband infrastructure on new builds.

08:25 24 June 2020

A Middleborough councilor is urging lawmakers to oblige property developers to include full fibre broadband provision in new builds as part of their planning process. 

 

Cllr Dennis McCabe said: "My son lives on a new housing development and he's limited to BT only.

 

"This isn't fair. It isn't fair for him and it isn't fair for the residents of Middleborough to get a good broadband deal and reduce their costs. 

 

"We've all seen lately we've really relied on broadband for all our social needs. 

 

"I think we need to readdress our planning issues in the town - and bring these builders to boot to have proper infrastructure in place as part of their deals for planning applications." 

 

A new law that will make it mandatory for property developers to ensure new homes are built with support for "gigabit-speed" broadband is expected to be passed soon. 

 

Meanwhile, Middlesborough has not been selected by Openreach to be part of its Fibre First programme, a scheme that will bring fast and reliable broadband connection to four million sites by March 2021. However, a long-running programme to give hundreds of Teesside properties 'gigabit capable' broadband will be rolled out by the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Openreach.