Question reference: S4W-29280
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 13 January 2016
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 January 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is a commercial advantage for housebuilders to install superfast broadband in their developments.
Answer
Access to superfast broadband is an increasingly important factor for people when deciding where they want to live. Buyers of new homes will rightly expect these premises to be superfast enabled; those that aren’t are likely to be less attractive as a result.
The Scottish Government’s development plan policies aim to encourage developers to explore opportunities for the provision of digital infrastructure to new homes and business premises as an integral part of development. This should be done in consultation with service providers so that appropriate future-proofed infrastructure is available to new home owners.
Scotland is currently involved in transposition of Article 8 of the European Commission Broadband Cost Reduction Directive. This European Commission policy requires the creation of empty ducts or routes in and around buildings, along with corresponding access/termination points, to allow cable or fibre to be installed if the owner wishes. A Scottish Statutory Instrument will be laid in Parliament shortly.