Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make the provision of broadband and other appropriate telecommunications access mandatory for all new housing and commercial developments.

The National Planning Framework Policy states that in preparing local plans local authorities should support the expansion of high-speed broadband and engage with developers and providers. In December 2014 we published “Better Connected”, a guide agreed between housing developers and utility companies which includes voluntary performance standards for the connection of broadband. Separately Government is also considering whether new buildings should be required to provide certain technology to ensure connections to broadband infrastructure.