Member Article

Cheshire and Warrington £28.5m broadband project underway

Homes in Cheshire and Warrington will be set up with high-speed fibre broadband under a £28.5m project between BT and local councils.

Approximately 96% of residential properties will gain the superfast broadband over the next three years to significantly improve internet speeds across Cheshire.

Warrington Borough Council said the investment will give as many as 400,000 premises access to the broadband, and will boost the local economy while protecting and creating new jobs.

A recent study around Cheshire, Warrington and Halton showed that full superfast broadband coverage would generate a gross impact of £1.3bn in GVA over 15 years and create 11,500 jobs, with a further £330m of economic benefits to households.

The first roll out will begin in December 2013 after eight months of survey work is carried out by BT’s local network division, Openreach.

Warrington Borough Council’s leader, Cllr Terry O’Neill, commented: “This will be a great thing for Cheshire and Warrington.

“We will become one of the best connected sub-regions in the UK. It will benefit homes and business.

“This investment will help us maintain our competitive lead and so help protect, create and improve job prospects into the future.”

Steve Park, managing director of Warrington & Co, added: “This is vital to the continued success of our town.

“Fibre and enhanced connectivity is vital to secure and maintain growth. Our economy is already setting the pace and leading the way for others to follow and this announcement will help us to race even further ahead.”

BT Next Generation Access’ managing director, Bill Murphy, said: “Cheshire has a large number of small and medium sized enterprises and a high volume of business start-ups, which collectively contribute a substantial proportion of the regional economy.

“The rollout of more fibre broadband will act as a powerful economic driver for these businesses.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .