A NEW £24.6million project to bring high-speed broadband to most households and businesses in Essex has been welcomed by an MP.

The deal, involving Essex County Council, BT and the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK, promises that 87 per cent of buildings in the county will be able to access fast internet speeds in the next three years.

Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, met decision makers to help push the investment through.

He said: “These upgrades will make a real difference to Essex residents and, in particular, businesses that have difficulty trading and communicating online, because of slow speeds.”

Engineers for Openreach, BT’s local network division, will now begin surveying locations around the county and analysing the best way to roll out the network and identify which areas of the county will be upgraded for fibre broadband.

There will be a phased approach to the roll-out, with the first premises expected to be upgraded by June 2014.