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Broadband

We aim to futureproof broadband connectivity and mobile coverage across our region.

More than 215,000 homes and businesses can now access high speed broadband – but many businesses are still struggling to access the fibre network. The LEP is investing £7.7million in the rollout of superfast broadband to ensure 77,000 extra homes and businesses will have speeds of more than 24mps by the end of this year.

Superfast Telford

The aim of the project is for Telford to be one of the first areas in the UK to have 100% fibre broadband coverage by 2020, to support the town’s growth, economic prosperity and digital inclusion. More than 9,323 premises (including 1,398 businesses) that cannot currently access faster fibre broadband will be able to do so through an open access network of providers.

 

Project funding:
Growth Fund: £1.004m, local authority funding: £989k and other public funding of £1.992m.

Key summary:

The Marches LEP secured an extra £7.7m as an extension to its Growth Deal funding to support the roll-out of the super fast service to more households and businesses, with fresh connections being made on a monthly basis.

Transparency

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Connectivity to broadband is particularly problematic in rural areas. We are aware that much of south and north Shropshire and west Herefordshire has slow broadband (0-10
Mbit/s). In some areas, this accounts for over 80% of premises.

Connecting Shropshire

This project will upgrade broadband provision to 64,328 premises in an intervention area of 71,689 (7,644 businesses). This includes target outcomes to provide 51,792 premises with superfast broadband, 9,988 receiving a fibre connection of greater than 2mbps, and 2,548 having access to a basic level of broadband (at least 2mbps).

This project will be fully completed in 2019/20. Find out more in the Connecting Shropshire newsletter.

Project funding
Growth Deal: £5.022m, local authority: £6,139,312 and other public funding of £4,234,552.

 

 

Fastershire

Growth Deal funds have been allocated to broadband projects across the Marches. The Fastershire project in Herefordshire is the procurement of an alternative solution and/or delivery partner aims to reach close to 100% of the residual need for superfast connectivity in Herefordshire. The project aims to overcome market failure in provision of high speed broadband in hard to reach areas.

This project will be fully completed in 2019/20.

Project funding:
Growth Deal: £1.674m, local authority funding: £1m, and other public funding of £8,970,267.

Find out more about broadband in the Marches by viewing the July 2018 briefing to the LEP in the downloads section on this page.

Broadband Presentation to The Marches LEP Board meeting 2018 Download icon
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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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