New homes will come ready for superfast internet under Government legislation announced this week.

The move is part of the Prime Minister’s plan to ‘level up’ the UK and accelerate the nationwide rollout of world-class broadband.

Welcoming the benefits for his own constituency of Workington, MP Mark Jenkinson said: “I’m delighted to see this legislation is being introduced because many property developers have been building brand new homes with second-rate broadband connections for far too long.

“This will now mean every new home will be built fit for the future and give people access to world-class broadband speeds from the moment they move in.

“It’s all part of our plan to deliver on our manifesto commitment to give everyone in the UK access to gigabit broadband, as we connect and level up the country.”

The introduction of gigabit-speed broadband in new builds will allow people to work from home more easily.

It is also intended to give homes fast and reliable connections for streaming TV and films on multiple devices at the same time.

Presently, one in five new homes are being built without gigabit-speed connections, mostly in smaller developments, where the cost can be

higher, or network operators have not had the time they need to build in connections before completion.

However, the latest measures mean developers would be legally required to install high-quality digital infrastructure from the outset.

They would be expected to make it a priority as part of the build, ensuring broadband companies are on board before the first brick is laid.

The Government’s Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme is also working to see full fibre broadband is delivered to the most remote parts of the UK.