New Forest - Additional Information

We are currently experiencing delays with a small number of cabinets in the New Forest National Park area. This is due to special circumstances, environmental constraints and the number of additional stakeholders involved. These parties include: New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest District Council, Natural England, New Forest Verderers, and the Forestry Commission.

We are working to ensure that we accommodate the requirements of all statutory bodies as efficiently as possible and obtain the necessary licenses and consents in a timely manner.

Hampshire Superfast Broadband team is working with BT Openreach and stakeholders in the New Forest to define guidelines and working practices that should enable BT Openreach to secure the necessary permissions to work within the park. Additional resources have also been allocated to minimise the delay. 

We understand that the delays are disappointing news for residents in the affected areas, but we would like to assure residents that the majority of cabinets within The New Forest have been delivered on time and we are working to resolve the cause of the delays for the small number of cabinets affected. 

We update this page with additional information when it becomes available. For any additional questions please contact us directly via email at: broadband@hants.gov.uk.

Beaulieu 1

The cabinet has been installed and went live in September 2017 and is now live and accepting orders. The location of the existing roadside cabinet location can be viewed here.

Bucklers Hard 2

This cabinet is now live and accepting orders. Residents should contact their internet service provider to upgrade to the new speeds.

Burley 1

Location has been agreed by the Verderers Court and work on the installation will start on Monday 24th September. The location of the existing roadside cabinet location can be viewed here.

Brockenhurst 1

The location of the new cabinet has been approved by the Verderers Court. Work is ongoing for this cabinet. A section of collapsed ducting on Brookley Road (not the bridge) was repaired by Hampshire Highways. However another duct running along a wall by the stream has suffered damage. Openreach and their contractors are fixing this and have been on site in early August 2017 to resolve the problems and and start pulling the copper and fibre through.

We do not yet have a date for when the cabinet is going to be installed, as we are waiting for some wayleaves to be signed by the Forestry Commission before this can happen. The location of the existing roadside cabinet location can be viewed here.

The nature of installing broadband improvements is such that a lot of work goes on behind the scenes so it can seem like not much is happening 'on the ground'. However please be assured we are making progress. 

Brockenhurst 2

Cabinet to be located on pavement on Rhinefield Road. A collapsed duct on Brookley road (not the bridge) is affecting the delivery of this cabinet.  Hampshire highways have completed these repairs. The location of the existing roadside cabinet location can be viewed here.

East End 1

This cabinet is now live and accepting orders. Residents should contact their internet service provider to upgrade to the new speeds.  The location of the existing roadside cabinet location can be viewed here.

Fordingbridge 2

Location has been agreed by the Verderers Court. The cabinet will now enter fifty-six-day public consultation via the New Forest National Park Authority and once approved enter BT's workstack. The location of the existing roadside cabinet location can be viewed here.

Sway 3

A location has been found for this cabinet near to Shirley Holms and Pitmore Lane. Unfortunately, a new drainage ditch has been dug where the cabinet was due to be installed. As a result, we will either have to remove the spoil from the ditch and build an additional retaining wall to support the side of the ditch or find an alternative location. HCC and Openreach are working with relevant parties to review this. The location of the existing roadside cabinet location can be viewed here.

Sway 8

Due to the high cost of the upgrade to this cabinet and the technology due to be used. At the moment, we have no further information about this cabinet.