Poor Internet connections and slow download speeds will soon be a thing of the past for residents of new build homes across the country, after the Government struck a deal with telecoms provider BT and the Home Builders Federation (HBF) to ensure that all new build homes are delivered with superfast broadband installed.

The deal means fibre-based broadband will be offered to all new developments either for free or as part of a co-funded initiative.

“Broadband connectivity is just one thing that home buyers now expect when buying a new build, so this industry-led push to make superfast, or indeed ultrafast, broadband speeds available by default in new homes represents a very important step in meeting the UK’s digital needs,” said Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey.

The installation of fibre broadband should help to increase the attractiveness of new build homes, ensuring that “new build purchasers benefit from the very best connectivity to go alongside the many other advantages of purchasing a brand new home”, according to Stewart Baseley (left), the Executive Chairman of the HBF.

The HBF has in the past criticised BT-owned Openreach for a persistent failure to connect newly built homes in a timely fashion. But the new deal means that BT will now make a “significant contribution” to broadband connections before seeking money from developers of new build housing schemes.