Residents in Warwick and Leamington could soon receive faster broadband after plans to build a full fibre (gigabit) station were approved.

The scheme, put forward by telecommunications company CityFibre, will see a small fibre exchange built on the land off Hayward Road, next to IBM's car park.

An application submitted to the district council said: "Central government are keen on ensuring that access to full fibre internet is sped up, and that Councils have their part to play in delivering the necessary infrastructure."

It added: "The proposed development comprises the development of a fibre exchange. 

"The development will serve the Warwick and Leamington Spa urban areas, and provide full fibre (gigabit) internet services to residents and businesses in the local area. 

"The applicant (CityFibre) are rolling out a gigabit network across the UK, with the aim of providing full fibre broadband to a number of the larger towns and cities in the UK."

The site will be built next to IBM's car park alongside the A46 (image via google.maps)

The development, which CityFibre says is the smallest it can be, will see two fibre optic cabin units built with ten air conditioning units and surrounded by fencing.

The application has now been approved by Warwick District Council which said the expansion of high-speed broadband is "important in supporting the economic wellbeing of the district and is becoming an increasingly important part of social inclusion".

And given the small scale of the scheme the council said it would have little impact on the surrounding area.

"The development would be sited a considerable distance from neighbouring uses which would prevent any harm to the operation of those uses," a council report said. 

"There are no residential dwellings within the immediately surrounding area that would be impacted by the proposal."

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