In search of civic engineers pioneering the development of #digitalassets for community benefit, we found Fibre Gar-Den in the North West and Lyme Regis Development Trust in the South West – respectively, addressing the challenges presented by market failure in ‘rural not-spots’ and exploring the potential for a dedicated telecommunications network to enhance regeneration plans in a coastal community.

More recently, we were invited to visit the folks hard at work in Caterham to develop a neighbourhood plan, build upon the excellent work to develop traditional community assets led by the Caterham Barracks Community Trust, and diversify with support from partners to establish a community broadband offer – unusually, in an urban setting.

So, we will be following their efforts over the coming months with great interest – and, with a view to capturing the learning from their approach to benefit others through the Our Digital Community programme we’re supporting. Needless to say, the approach they’re adopting benefits from a distinct enterprise and regeneration flavour which we think has enormous potential to benefit communities elsewhere. But, for now, their plans remain ‘under wraps’ (for obvious reasons)…