Colchester to Push for Fibre Broadband as Part of New Build Planning

The Colchester Borough Council in Essex (England) has become the latest to call on local property developers to consider the need for faster “direct fibre” broadband connectivity when seeking planning permission for new builds, although it’s not an enforced requirement.

A number of other councils have already adopted similar policies (example), which follows last year’s pressure from the Digital Economy Minister (Ed Vaizey) who called on local authorities to support “the rollout of superfast broadband when developing and updating Local Plans and considering planning applications” (here).

Most recently the Government, BT (Openreach) and the Home Builders Federation (HBF) also managed to reach a new agreement that aims to deliver “fibre based” (FTTC/P/H) superfast or ultrafast broadband connectivity into new build properties across the United Kingdom, either for free or co-funded (here).

In keeping with that it’s no surprise to find that Colchester’s local authority has finally agreed a new policy of asking developers to build-in support for faster broadband, albeit only where possible.

The somewhat voluntary wording may be a reflection of the fact that it’s not always practical for home builders, particularly those constructing a single house in the middle of nowhere, to also ensure that the property is served by superfast broadband.

In some cases doing so for small builds, which can be personal or professional projects, could cost tens of thousands and that would risk making the project unviable. But on bigger builds that’s less of a problem and including support for fast broadband should ideally be a matter of normal practice.

Colchester’s Local Plan Committee Report said (Gazette):

“Local Planning Authorities have a pivotal role to play in encouraging developers to future-proof their developments by installing direct fibre access, where ever possible.

In addition to the reputational and wider economic benefits of ensuring residents are able to access high speed broadband when they move into new developments, there is also the issue of avoiding the costs and frustrations to occupiers of future retrofitting if the infrastructure is not fit for purpose.”

Apparently the council is looking at the issue of broadband connectivity as part of their new local plan to build 15,000 new homes and commercial premises by 2032. Meanwhile a new EU policy will soon require “All new buildings – and those undergoing major renovation – for which applications for building permission have been submitted after 31 December 2016 must be high-speed ready” (here).