St Helens' Ultrafast Full Fibre Broadband Project

Work to install ultrafast broadband in St Helen is now underway.

12:25 06 September 2021

St Helens will soon have access to ultrafast full-fibre broadband as part of a £30million Liverpool City Region Combined Authority scheme. The project will make the region one of the most digitally connected areas in the country. 

 

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has partnered with North West-based ITS Technology Group in building the network, which will be aimed initially at businesses, institutions and commercial customers to help drive business growth and investment. LCR Connect will pass through 13 wards in the borough of St Helens, including Glass Futures and Earlestown town centre. 

 

Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet member for education, skills and business and the Liverpool City Region’s deputy portfolio holder for inclusive economy and third sector, said: "This is a transformational project that aims to firmly place our city region at the forefront of digital connectivity.

 

“We know our residents and businesses want to see improvements made to broadband speeds which is why LCR Connect is such a significant revolutionary project which has the potential to contribute more than £100m to the City Region’s economic recovery in the short-term and up to £1bn in the longer-term."

 

Steve Rotheram, metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added: “When I was elected, I made it a priority to make our region the most digitally connected anywhere in the country so it is fantastic to see work getting underway in St Helens on this game-changing digital network.

 

“Our region was at the forefront of the first industrial revolution, and I think LCR Connect will help make us a leader of the fourth, ultimately generating £1bn for the local economy.

 

“Local people and businesses in St Helens and beyond will feel the benefits too, with significantly faster broadband speeds, thousands of jobs and training opportunities, and improved public services. To top it all off, we own 50 per cent of it so we’ll be reaping the benefits for years to come.”