Disclosure Log
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) (FOI/5442)
Message from Nottinghamshire County Council - 18 March 2025
Dear ***** *****
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REFERENCE FOI/5442
Thank you for your request for information relating to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), which we have dealt with under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) deployment in Bunny (NG11), specifically concerning its status, delays, funding, and any future plans.
Following my recent FOI request to Ofcom, I have been informed that Ofcom does not hold detailed information on the deployment of FTTP in Bunny, including the roles of specific operators, funding sources, or reasons for project cessation. As such, I am now requesting relevant information from Nottinghamshire County Council, particularly regarding any involvement in broadband planning, funding, and local infrastructure decisions.
I would be grateful if you could provide responses to the following questions:
1. Timeline of FTTP Deployment
• Please provide any records of planned FTTP deployment in Bunny (NG11), including any changes to expected delivery dates from June 2021 onwards.
Nottinghamshire currently has no contracted Full Fibre (FTTP) deployment projects in place, except for the Gigahub Project. This project is specifically aimed at schools and other community buildings that were unlikely to be covered under commercially viable builds.
Recent changes in UK Government policy have significantly altered the funding and management structure for digital infrastructure projects. Previously, public subsidies for fibre deployments (FTTC – Fibre to the Cabinet) were a co-investment between UK Central Government and Local Authorities. However, under the revised policy, all intervention-based FTTP fibre deployment is now solely funded and managed by UK Government authorities, rather than through direct Local Authority investment where a market failure and subsidy intervention is deemed necessary and affordable.
For areas such as Bunny, Nottinghamshire, Full Fibre (FTTP) deployment falls under Lot 10 of Project Gigabit, which has been contracted to Connexin by Building Digital UK (BDUK)—a division of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). [It may therefore be worthwhile making requests under the Environmental Information Regulations to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.]
To date, Nottinghamshire County Council has been actively engaging with BDUK regarding progress updates on Lot 10 deployment schedules. Aside from confirmation that the overall contract completion deadline remains set for March 2027 we cannot advise specifically on Bunny but have asked for any updates from BDUK. It is very difficult to be conclusive as even within specific areas premises change if for instance wayleaves are required and not granted.
• Have there been any discussions, agreements, or coordination between Rushcliffe County Council and network operators (e.g., Openreach, CityFibre, Virgin Media, or others) regarding broadband rollout in Bunny
We regularly look to engage with suppliers to understand their plans and, where a specific location or premise is highlighted, will escalate on behalf of the resident or business. We do not favour or support any supplier over another and will respond to requests for TTROs for Traffic Management where requested, as per our guidelines.
• If the council holds records of changes to deployment plans, please provide details of the reasons for delays or cancellation of work in the area.
As of February 2025, there is no public information indicating that CityFibre has ceased its Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) deployment in Nottinghamshire or Nottingham. In fact, CityFibre has made significant investments in the region.
In January 2021, CityFibre commenced a £117 million project to transform Nottingham"s digital infrastructure. By January 2022, they had laid over 110km of full fibre cables, with construction ongoing in areas such as West Bridgford, Basford, Hyson Green, and Arboretum. The project aims to provide residents and businesses with access to high-speed, reliable connectivity. Newark and Sherwood. In December 2023, CityFibre reached a wayleave agreement with the Newark and Sherwood District Council. This agreement facilitates the extension of their full fibre network to an additional 500 homes in the area, further enhancing digital connectivity.
We can see or find no evidence of City Fibre Plans for extending out to areas such as Bunny. No Council money was used in relation of subsidy to build.
2. CityFibre’s Involvement
• Was CityFibre involved in running fibre cables to poles in Bunny
We cannot comment on this in terms of CityFibre"s own commercial plans but would suggest from experience it is highly unlikely they would use Openreach PIA (Public Internet Access) Poles or deploy their own poles as historically CityFibre have favoured their own underground separate ducting.
• If so, was public funding allocated to support CityFibre’s broadband installation If so, how much was allocated/spent
None and nothing historically or planned.
• What was the scope of CityFibre’s work, and was there an official reason recorded for why the project was halted before completion
Any work by CityFibre has historically been on a commercial basis and did not attract any public subsidy in Nottinghamshire. CityFibre are on record of ceasing numerous commercial builds across the UK or completing the builds they had planned. There is often a difference between the planned and the finally deployed numbers at the micro level; this can be from higher than expected costs or obstacles to new developments that can be included. Please refer to CityFibre directly.
3. Funding & Public Money
• Has Rushcliffe County Council provided or managed any public funding for FTTP deployment in Bunny
No, as these areas fall under Lot 10 or commercial build plans, no alternative solutions have been considered, since the primary objective is to drive FTTP deployment and subsidy control means that we cannot use public monies where existing interventions are in play or commercial builds have been identified. However, some rural residents have independently adopted 4G/5G mobile broadband and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services such as Starlink. While these can provide connectivity, they do not currently meet the UK Government’s Gigabit-capable definition (100-1000Mbps or greater).
Additionally, no alternative Gigabit-capable Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions have been proposed in Bunny. The UK Government has set targets for 85% Gigabit coverage by 2025 and 99% by 2030.
For more information on the UK Government’s broadband targets and initiatives, visit: Project Gigabit - GOV.UK
• If public money has been spent on broadband infrastructure in Bunny, please provide:
• Total amount of funding allocated to broadband projects in Bunny.
Not at present, as these areas fall under BDUK Project Gigabit Lot 10 subsidy control measures. Funding for subsidy is only applied in arrears, meaning the supplier must first complete the build and prove that the premises are Ready for Service (RFS) before receiving subsidy payments. However, the council continues to review progress and emerging technologies.
For more details on Project Gigabit Lot 10, please direct to BDUK.
• Breakdown of costs (e.g., planning, materials, labour, administrative costs).
We do not hold this information as BDUK do not disclose this information to us. You would need to direct this to BDUK.
• Which providers received public funding, and what work was completed using these funds
Connexin was awarded the contract for Project Gigabit Lot 10, which encompasses Nottinghamshire and the western part of Lincolnshire.
This initiative aims to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises that lack existing or planned commercial coverage. Funding is disbursed in arrears, meaning Connexin must first complete the infrastructure build and demonstrate that the premises are Ready for Service (RFS) before receiving subsidy payments.
For more information about Connexin and their services, visit their official website: https://www.connexin.co.uk.
Premises not covered by Project Gigabit Lot 10 or existing commercial plans may still have options for improved broadband access. The UK Government offers the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which provides financial support to eligible homes and businesses seeking to install gigabit-capable connections. There are no Voucher Schemes open in Nottinghamshire.
4. Future Plans for FTTP in Bunny
• Are there any future council-supported initiatives, partnerships, or funding schemes aimed at improving broadband access in Bunny
Not at present, as these areas fall under BDUK Project Gigabit subsidy control measures. However, the Council is regularly reviewing the situation in light of build progress and emerging technologies.
For updates on Project Gigabit and potential future funding opportunities, Project Gigabit - GOV.UK
• Has the council been made aware of any plans from providers to revisit FTTP deployment in Bunny If so, please provide details.
The Council is aware that FTTP deployment in Bunny falls under Project Gigabit Lot 10, awarded to Connexin. For further details on rollout plans, progress, and coverage, we refer to Connexin and BDUK. More information can be found on Connexin’s website: https://www.connexin.co.uk.
There may also be other commercial FTTP plans, but the council has not been made aware of any at this time. If a commercial build is proposed, funded, and developed with a proven investment plan, then subsidy-funded deployments in those areas will cease in accordance with subsidy control regulations.
5. Alternative Solutions & Technical Considerations
• Have any alternative broadband solutions been proposed by the council or network providers to improve fibre coverage in Bunny
No, as these areas fall under Project Gigabit Lot 10 or commercial build plans, no alternative solutions have been considered, with the primary focus being on FTTP deployment. However, some rural residents have independently adopted 4G/5G mobile broadband and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services such as Starlink. While these solutions provide connectivity, they do not meet the UK Government’s Gigabit-capable definition of delivering between 100Mbps and 1Gbps or greater.
Additionally, no Gigabit-capable Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions have been proposed in Bunny that could provide an alternative high-speed service. The UK Government aims for 85% Gigabit coverage by 2025 and 99% by 2030 across the UK.
For more details on Project Gigabit Lot 10 Project Gigabit - GOV.UK
• Were any proposals made to address technical limitations (e.g., fibre distance from exchanges, infrastructure costs), and why were they not pursued
Yes, these challenges were to be addressed through Project Gigabit Lot 10, which provides public subsidies for premises that would otherwise have no commercial plans for upgrades or builds.
Where a commercial plan is deemed viable and likely to proceed, BDUK does not assign public subsidy, as this would breach subsidy control regulations and represent poor use of taxpayers" money. Additionally, if viable commercial plans emerge during the public intervention process—since commercial intentions can change over time—BDUK may withdraw public subsidy funding accordingly.
For more details on Project Gigabit Lot 10, visit Project Gigabit - GOV.UK:
We trust this now satisfies your request and that you find this information to be helpful.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Requests should be submitted within 40 working days of the date of receipt of the response to your original request and should be addressed to: Complaints and Information Team, Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, NOTTINGHAM, NG2 7QP or [email protected]
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, WILMSLOW, SK9 5AF or https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/foi-and-eir-complaints/
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Yours sincerely
Complaints and Information Team
Chief Executives Department
Nottinghamshire County Council
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