Residents and businesses urged to pledge support while government funding can cover up to 80% of network build costs.
Strong local support is accelerating plans to bring gigabit‑capable full‑fibre broadband to more than 300 homes and businesses in upper Weardale, with B4RN urging the community to seize the opportunity while government funding remains available.
B4RN, or Broadband for the Rural North, operates as a Community Benefit Society. It works alongside rural communities to build and operate full‑fibre networks in places often overlooked by larger commercial providers, reinvesting its surplus to support community purpose and extend its reach.
Phase 1 of the Wearhead project is fully approved – the first stage will run from Killhope Mining Museum to Ireshopeburn, with work scheduled to begin as early as next month. Thanks to exceptional engagement from residents, landowners and volunteers, it has become one of B4RN’s fastest projects to progress through its development stage.
That momentum will bring lasting improvements to connectivity across the area, supporting households, farms and businesses that need reliable broadband – from working and learning to accessing services and keeping in touch.
“Full fibre is one of the most valuable things a rural community can secure. It strengthens local businesses, supports families and gives people the confidence to invest in their future. Seeing Weardale come together behind B4RN has been inspiring – it’s exactly how rural progress should look.”
Mike Orr – local resident and business owner
Government funding can cover up to 80% of the cost of building the network. However, both funding availability and delivery timescales are limited, making early community involvement essential.
B4RN is asking residents and businesses within the proposed footprint to pledge their support, respond to requests to sign up and help secure the land access agreements needed to mobilise the network.
Its model combines professional network design and engineering with local knowledge and practical support. Residents help spread the word, volunteers coordinate activity, and landowners grant permission for fibre to cross their land through agreements known as wayleaves. Together, these contributions help make challenging rural builds possible.
Tom Rigg, CEO at B4RN said: “The response in upper Weardale has been tremendous. Local volunteers, residents and landowners have helped make Wearhead one of our quickest projects to move through development, showing what a community can achieve when people get behind a shared ambition.
“We want to turn that enthusiasm into a network that serves this valley for generations. With government funding available to meet a substantial proportion of the build cost, there is a real opportunity here, but we need people to act while that opportunity is open.
“Every pledge, sign‑up and wayleave helps us move forward. The more people who engage, the more we can achieve together.”
The project reflects B4RN’s wider commitment to closing the rural digital divide, backing British farming and supporting environmental sustainability.
Reliable full‑fibre connectivity can help rural businesses reach customers and operate more efficiently, enable farms to adopt digital management and monitoring tools, and support renewable energy installations and wildlife conservation projects. For residents, it provides a stronger connection to education, employment, essential services and the wider community.
Phase 2 is already being tabled and could extend the infrastructure further down the valley, potentially reaching up to 800 homes all the way to Westgate. B4RN may also explore coverage towards Rookhope, subject to funding, feasibility and continued local support.
Residents, businesses and landowners are encouraged to find out whether their property is within the proposed coverage area and register their support.
Register your support at B4RN.org.uk
Use the line checker to see if your property is included and submit the short form to:
- Pledge investment to help accelerate the build, or
- Register your interest in taking a service when the network goes live.
Early engagement helps secure funding, unlock wayleaves and keep momentum strong.
