HAMPSHIRE County Council leaders have agreed to step up their efforts to ensure that new homes being built across the county have access to superfast broadband.

The local authority has pledged to work with district and borough councils across Hampshire and developers and broadband suppliers to make access to superfast broadband speeds a requirement from the day the property is occupied on new developments.

The plan follows a motion proposed by Basingstoke North West councillor Stephen Reid and New Milton councillor Mel Kendal at a full council meeting in Winchester.

Cllr Reid told the meeting: “If you buy a new car, you expect it to be fitted with modern day safety and driving aids. When buying a house, you expect it to be fitted with modern-day essentials such as central heating, energy efficient insulation, and yes, fast broadband.

“It is expected these days for entertainment, communication and business purposes, with an increasing number of people working from home or checking their emails after getting home in the evenings.”

If voluntary agreements cannot be reached with developers and broadband suppliers, the county council will call on the Government to give local authorities legal powers to insist on installation of superfast broadband through the planning application process, especially on large-scale developments.

The county council has already pledged to spend £26million, which includes financial contributions from the Government and district and borough councils, to “retro-fit” superfast broadband in rural areas across Hampshire.

The programme is expected to bring high internet speeds to around 94,000 properties that were not included in the roll-out of superfast broadband to commercial premises.

Hampshire County Council leader Cllr Roy Perry said: “We will use our best endeavours in our negotiations to make sure we can get this matter sorted for the people of Hampshire.”