Marches LEP supports fibre broadband with £8.1m fund

A local enterprise partnership (LEP) has launched an £8.1 million fund to support the rollout of fibre optic broadband in parts of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

The Marches LEP is calling for bidders to put forward their ideas for the scheme, which is designed to create new private sector jobs and stimulate the local economy.

Successful applicants will receive loans to deal with immediate constraints in a bid to get stalled investment in the region back on track.

Dr Geoffrey Davies, chairman of the LEP, said the schemes must look to create the conditions and infrastructure required to boost the competitiveness of local businesses.

"The latter includes projects which would maximise opportunities for new technologies such as super-fast broadband," he explained.

Dr Davies' comments come just weeks after businesses in the Marches were invited to bid for a chunk of £1 billion of government funding for private sector-led projects.

The LEP explained at the time that it is eager to endorse "ready-to-deliver projects" aiming to create jobs and sustainable growth.