UPDATE Trouble for Future of UKB Networks Wireless Broadband in Swindon

The £1.9m UKB Networks contract to roll-out a new superfast (24Mbps+) wireless broadband network in North Swindon faces a big test tomorrow when a revised application for 4 new masts goes before the planning committee, but recent developments from BT and Virgin Media may complicate the vote.

The Superfast Swindon network aims to cover 19,500 premises in parts of the town that have been left neglected by commercial fixed line operators and 13,000 of those are in rural areas, where the network is already approved and being rolled out (here and here).

However 5 proposed masts for the urban part of North Swindon (representing about 7,000 premises) were rejected at the start of this year following gripes by local residents and politicians, most of whom complained about the location of the masts and questioned whether or not it is was the right solution for the town (here and here).

Soon after that UKBN revised their plan and submitted a new batch of applications and locations for three 15 metre tall monopoles (these are all around the Haydon area) and one 8 metre lattice tower (on Tadpole Lane in Blunsdon), but the new plan faces a significant challenge and questions over whether or not the service is even needed.

Openreach (BT) recently announced that their “up to” 80Mbps FTTC and 330Mbps FTTP fixed line broadband network will be extended to cover 6,500 premises in the Priory Vale part of the town (here), which follows trials for 500 premises in Haydon Wick and Taw Hill. On top of that Virgin Media has also confirmed a commercial plan to expand their FTTP / DOCSIS network to another 7,000 premises in the town’s northern half (here).

Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, said (Swindon Advertiser):

“The argument of UKBN and Swindon Borough Council is that this is vital to providing residents access to superfast broadband.

We know this is absolute nonsense as both BT and Virgin have set out their very clear and rapid roll out timetable for the northern sector without a single penny of taxpayer’s funding as this was a purely commercial decision.

Therefore, there is absolutely no need for this unwanted, dated and unpopular technology – I hope the planning team, once again, kick it out.”

In fairness the technology itself isn’t “dated“, although in light of recent announcements it’s certainly become less popular. Similarly when the contract was first being put out to tender neither BT nor Virgin Media seemed terribly keen to expand their fixed line networks into the area, although both have recently announced major UK expansion projects and this has changed their strategy.

In theory EU state aid rules should prevent the use of public funding where a commercial operator is already able to deliver the needed NGA broadband service (necessary in order to avoid wasting public money and overbuilding), but in practice a mix of delays between the differing announcements (BT and Virgin have yet to build their new networks) and existing contractual agreements will complicate such matters.

As such it’s unsurprising that the plan for four new masts in the urban part of North Swindon should again be called before the planning committee by local Councillor Vera Tomlinson, who has pointed to the public interest case and questioned the scheme’s viability. But the committee itself only has so much influence.

Extract from Meeting Agenda (Download)

It is important that the committee takes note that this and the other three applications, which are proposed as part of securing the delivery of fourth generation superfast wireless broadband to communities across the borough based on a network of radio base stations, are for PRIOR APPROVAL and not full planning permission.

Statutory Instrument 2015 No.596, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 gives deemed planning permission as the height of the monopoles and in the case of Tadpole Lane a short lattice tower and associated cabinets fall below the threshold criteria requiring the submission of a full planning application. However the prior approval of the local planning authority is still required as to the siting and appearance only.

A vote will be taken tomorrow (Tuesday 12th July 2016) and we’ll update this article once the outcome is known. Even if the vote passes then the project will probably still be seen as a waste of public money by critics and the service itself may end up struggling for longer term viability in the face of competition from BT and Virgin Media.

On the other hand North Swindon will soon benefit from some of the best infrastructure level broadband competition in the UK, which spells good news for consumers.

UPDATE 14th July 2016

All four North Swindon masts have been refused permission, which is despite the local planning officers recommending approval and the lack of any formal objections from parish councils or residents on three of the four applications. However, for the reasons set out above, there was a lot of opposition and a number of councillors spoke out against the plan.

Suffice to say that the meeting ended up covering a much broader range of issues than those related to the required points of “siting and appearance” and as such it’s likely that the applications will still be pushed through on appeal.

Nicholas James, CEO of UKB Networks, said:

“We are disappointed that the planning committee decided, by a very narrow majority, to refuse planning permission for the alternative sites as part of a plan that took into account the views of Swindon Borough Council, local councillors and residents.

UKBN has a contract with Swindon Borough Council to deliver the Superfast Swindon project to 20,000 homes, including approximately 7,000 homes in North Swindon, and the project will continue as planned.

In order to ensure that this decision does not restrict the options for North Swindon residents, we are in discussion with Swindon Borough Council and BDUK to work out the appropriate next steps in the appeal and planning process.”