New developments and infrastructure influenced by Stoke-on-Trent City Council will be required to have fibre connectivity as standard to enable high-speed internet connection.

The authority has entered into a 25-year partnership arrangement with a fibre provider – and the new policy aims to future-prove new developments and regeneration projects in the city.

Cabinet members approved the policy at their meeting on Tuesday (October 6). Council leader Jane Ashworth described the move as "21st century".

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker said: "I have received plenty of correspondence from business owners in particular who cannot get access to the fibre network they need. It's not a nice to have, it's essential in this age of AI etc."

A report to the cabinet said: "The city council currently enjoy a subsidised connection fee from our fibre partner for all of its municipal network, which not only ensures each site has a stable/fast internet connection but also at a competitive price which supports ongoing revenue budgets.

"It is proposed that it is made council policy that all new property developments, regeneration projects and physical infrastructure procurements where the city council has significant control will include a fibre infrastructure connection as standard along with equivalent industry connectivity, ie BT, Virgin Media and any other provider not mentioned here.

"This will ensure that all new property developments, regeneration projects and physical infrastructure procurements are future-proofed for Public WIFI/Smart City IoT Devices/CCTV coverage, and all have the necessary fibre network infrastructure installed as standard.

"Early engagement with our city council network services fibre planning team at design stage will ensure that this necessary infrastructure is included in the development/project/procurement budget.

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"Developers will be able to use any suitable fibre network; there will be no obligation to use the municipal network although the council will set out the benefits of doing so. Agreement will need to be made by the council's chief executive in order to be exempt from this policy.

"The proposal does not create any immediate additional revenue budget commitments.

"However, implementation of the policy will require fibre connectivity and associated network infrastructure to be incorporated into the capital costs of all relevant council-influenced developments, regeneration projects and physical infrastructure procurements.

"These costs will need to be identified and included within individual project business cases and budgets at the design stage. Early provision of fibre infrastructure is expected to represent a lower whole-life cost than retrofitting connectivity at a later date and will help avoid future capital expenditure associated with network installation."