A GRANT of £15m from the government could open up new direct broadband for towns across North Yorkshire paving the way for improved services for up to 55,000 homes and 6,000 businesses.

The money is being given to North Yorkshire County Council and their broadband company NYnet to install fibre direct into 400 public buildings. Providers such as BT could then connect to nearby houses and businesses.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for broadband, said in a county the size of North Yorkshire it was a huge step towards making high speed and very high quality connectivity possible. Direct fibre can provide superfast services equivalent to streaming up to 200 HD movies at the same time.

The town’s due to benefit are Northallerton, Ripon, Thirsk, Stokesley and Great Ayton, Leyburn, Richmond, Knaresborough and Harrogate, Skipton, Malton, Scarborough, Malton, Norton, Whitby, Tadcaster, Selby and Easingwold.

Cllr Mackenzie added: "The fibre broadband will not only improve the situation for these 400 buildings but for households and businesses within 200 metres, which could be connected through providers.

“We estimate up to 55,000 households and between 5,000 to 6,000 businesses could benefit from this. The success of this bid underlines yet again the progress which NYCC and NYnet have made in creating a very strong digital infrastructure in the county, which is good for our residents and for our businesses.’’

“The next step after finalising the agreement with the Department of Digital Culture, Media and Sports is to undertake a procurement process to get the best value for North Yorkshire. This will be the focus of activity this year with the deployment of the fibre likely to start next year."

County council leader Cllr Carl Les, said the bid was successful because they had such strong support from all partners including MPs, councils, health groups and blue light services.

The new scheme will bring better service for urban areas, but many remote areas in the county are still struggling.

NYnet say around 90 per cent of households currently have access to superfast broadband. A new phase for more remote areas is being launched later this year to extend the figure to 95 per cent.

More on broadband services in the county is available through nynet.co.uk .