Rural premises with broadband speeds of less than 100Mbps can use vouchers worth £1,500 per home and up to £3,500 for each small to medium-sized business (SME) or sole traders under the national scheme - to support the cost of installing new fast and reliable connection. This has been given an additional boost, with a 'Derbyshire top-up' meaning that the can now apply for up to £3,000 per household and up to £7,000 per small to medium sized business.
'Rural' is defined using agreed standard measures in the relevant part of the UK - see ONS Mapping tool - Effectively in High Peak, rural includes all of the district excluding Glossop, New Mills, Furness Vale and Buxton. This means that the towns of Chapel-en-le-Frith, Whaley Bridge, and villages of Hayfield, Charlesworth, Chisworth, Peak Forest and all of the Hope Valley are within the eligible area.
Businesses can also boost the value of the voucher by joining together with other businesses and residential customers who, as a group, can pool vouchers together to subsidise the cost of installing a connection.
Step 1: Find out if you are in eligible area and check which suppliers cover your postcode
Step 2: Contact suppliers directly via links provided to discuss your needs, options and cost.
Step 3: Once you have chosen your preferred supplier, sign up to the gigabit connection and you will be contacted to confirm you are happy to go ahead and then the supplier will deliver your scheme and will draw down the voucher.
