Arranging broadband connectivity for new build homes can be a complex process for housebuilders. Our technical director Dean Knight explains how land promoters can help:
The past few months have proved that everyday activities like working from home, medical appointments, staying in touch, home entertainment, shopping and online learning all depend on fast broadband speeds.
The quality of the ‘fourth utility’ is also driving house prices and demand. Research from online agency Housesimple found that slow broadband could reduce house values by 25%, while a study published last week by TalkTalk revealed that that nearly two thirds (62%) of Brits would consider not buying a house if it didn’t have a strong, reliable internet connection.
Just before lockdown began, the Government unveiled a commitment, ruling that by 2025, all new homes should have gigabit-speed (1Gbps) broadband. The upcoming changes to the Building Regulations could mean that residential property developers will be “legally required to install high-quality digital infrastructure from the outset, make it a priority as part of the build, and ensure broadband companies are on board before the first brick is laid.”
With the continued support of government, broadband operators often contribute to developers’ costs of installing the new infrastructure. But the technical process can be complicated, especially in areas that don’t have suitable networks. Added to that lengthy lead times frequently don’t fit in with developers’ start on site schedules.
Facilitating broadband connectivity is one of the services that land promoters can offer to their developer partners as part of their work to get sites build-ready. Increasingly, we at Richborough Estates are including Broadband Infrastructure within our sales and technical packs along with the more traditional matters of Access, Drainage and Air Quality.
Our technical team assesses a site’s broadband options far in advance of site start, and we work with a range of operators and providers including GTC Ultrafast Fibre, Grain Connect and Hyperoptic amongst others to offer our developers a hassle free and cost-effective full fibre solution.
With the support of our broadband partners, the aim for day-one connectivity – to fulfil a growing requirement from homeowners who want to get on with their lives on moving-in day – is becoming an ever-present part of the work that we do. With the speeds able to be delivered by these providers far exceeding the inhouse connectivity requirement of a minimum 30Mbps.
New research from Zoopla suggests that demand for new build homes has surged by 66% since lockdown, due to people’s wish for the latest hassle-free technology in addition to the whole raft of other benefits that new builds bring.
With land promoters providing 50% of housebuilders’ land, we’re playing a growing role in ensuring that these new homes are fit for the future.
For more information contact Dean Knight: dean@richborough.co.uk