Connecting Cheshire Partnership commits £2.9m for rural communities

The Connecting Cheshire Partnership has announced a £2.9m investment to enable more rural communities to access gigabit broadband. 

The investment by the partnership, consisting of Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Warrington Borough Council and Halton Borough Council, will top up the funding currently available through the government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.

In total, this provides eligible premises with up to £4,000 per residence and £7,000 per business.

Applications for the top-up vouchers opened today on the 5th of September with funding allocated on a first-come, first served basis.

“More than 1,700 hard-to-reach homes and businesses in Cheshire have been given better broadband connections as part of the government's £210m voucher scheme, and an extra £2.9m to provide a further boost and level up rural communities,” said Digital Infrastructure Minister, Matt Warman. 

Councillor Nick Mannion, chair of Cheshire East Council’s Economy and Growth Committee, added: “Connecting rural areas across the sub-region to high-speed broadband is vital to improving the rural economy and remains the priority for Connecting Cheshire.

“We now encourage communities to come together and utilise both the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and Connecting Cheshire top-up funding available to get your community connected.”