T: 01822 851370 E: admin@sparse.gov.uk
Church spires across the UK will be used to boost digital connectivity and broadband speeds in rural areas. The decision follows an agreement between the government and the Church of England. It encourages the Church of...
A 4G antenna launched by telecoms giant EE can connect isolated rural homes to superfast broadband. The 4G antenna is being introduced following trials in Cumbria where it providing rural homes with connections as fast as fibre. The...
A 10-minute survey aims to uncover how broadband availability impacts on rural businesses in England. The survey is being undetaken by Jenny Bennett – a final year student at Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire. Ms Bennett...
Campaigners say many rural areas still lack adequate broadband – although connections are getting faster. The government says it has delivered on a manifesto commitment to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by the end...
Everyone in the UK will have a legal right to broadband speeds of at least 10Mbps by 2020, the government has announced. ...
A pioneering superfast broadband project is benefiting rural communities in North Yorkshire. North Yorkshire County Council is investing more than £12m from its funds, for the next phase of the Superfast North Yorkshire initiative. It is...
Cheshire East Council will receive a share of £7.25m of funding to extend the roll-out of faster broadband in the borough. The investment – to be implemented over the next three years - is the fourth phase of the...
The government says up to £645m will help bring superfast broadband to the UK's most remote areas. Digital minister Matt Hancock said more than 900,000 extra UK homes and businesses could gain access to superfast speeds after the end of this...
Six areas have been named to pilot a scheme to bring full fibre broadband to businesses, schools and hospitals. Described as the next generation of broadband, full fibre networks run fibre connections straight to the doors of customers’ homes or businesses....
Up to 2,000 homes could benefit from £2.2m to bring faster broadband to remote Northumberland communities. The iNorthumberland programme aims to bring the high-speed technology to some of the most expensive and technically difficult to reach communities in the...
Sign up to receive all our latest news and updates.
Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates.