Government adds £100m to broadband funds as four more council projects approved

The government has announced it has secured a further £100m in potential funding as it revealed that four more broadband rollout projects submitted by councils have been approved.

The additional funding would come from the European Regional Development Fund with councils able to submit a request for the funding direct to the organisation.

Councils will, as a result, now have access to a pot worth about £730m to spend on the roll out of broadband networks to meet the government's broadband targets.

The government also confirmed four more regions have now had their broadband funding plans approved.

These are Kent and Medway Councils (£9.8m in funding), Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (£8.2m), Lincolnshire (£14.3m) and Hampshire, including the City of Portsmouth and the City of Southampton (£8.4m).

Internet minister Ed Vaizey said the ongoing work by councils to secure funding would help ensure the UK was a leading digital nation.

"Britain needs fast broadband to drive economic growth and connect remote communities. I have been impressed by the enthusiasm the majority of councils have shown for seizing the opportunity to roll out superfast broadband," he said.

The approval of these projects means there are now 32 submissions awaiting a response, of which half are regarded with "high confidence" they will meet the government's timetable and 13 as "medium confidence".

However, three districts have been criticised for their lack of plans, with areas around Liverpool, Newcastle and Sunderland and Bath and North East Somerset also criticised for their lack of planning on the issue.

"I am disappointed that a few councils seem to have slipped behind schedule. I will be seeking urgent talks with these councils to ensure they understand the need to make real progress quickly," said Mr Vaizey.

"We do not intend to continue to fund councils if they continue to fail to deliver."

In December the government warned councils that a failure to submit adequete plans for broadband funding by February could see them miss out on a share of its funding.