The Government has announced that all Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including SEEDA, will close by 31 March 2012.
Responsibility for economic development and regeneration in England is being passed onto successor bodies, including Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and central Government departments
Our objective is to ensure a professional and cost effective closure by this date. We have pledged to work closely with our partners, contractors and stakeholders to ensure that the past and future economic benefits of key programmes and assets continue to deliver the greatest economic value for the South East and value for money for the taxpayer.
Please click here for more details about our closure plan, transition arrangements and successor organisations.
Rural Broadband
Rural communities throughout the South East and London can now apply for capital grants for support towards the establishment of a limited number of pilot broadband projects in rural areas.
The grants, which are provided under the Rural Development Programme for England, through the European Economic Recovery Programme are managed by SEEDA. The total amount of funding available at the moment for rural broadband through RDPE is £375,000 until the end of 2010.
Ideas are now being sought for a limited number of pilot projects that will provide high-speed broadband access for rural areas that are losing out in broadband coverage.
Given the need for projects to be contracted by the end of next year, SEEDA is seeking expressions of interest by the 31st May 2010.
SEEDA will only fund projects that will provide speeds of more than 2Mbits per second, and only in areas which have been identified as being “White” or “Grey”. White areas are where broadband networks do not at present exist and private investment is unlikely to build a network within three years. “Grey” areas are where only one network is in place or planned for deployment within three years and there are no plans by any operator to deploy a second network within three years.
Use the links below to download the.
For further information, please contact David Cooper at SEEDA on 01483 501304 or email ruralbroadband@seeda.co.uk
