UK Councils Prioritise Connectivity but Lack Impact Data

Why It Matters

Without credible impact data, councils risk missing funding and policy support, while the national push for evidence‑based infrastructure intensifies. Demonstrating tangible returns is essential for aligning local digital projects with broader economic growth goals.

Key Takeaways

• 80% councils rank connectivity as top priority
• 90% cannot measure economic or social impact
• 70% want impact assessments but lack capacity
• Rural mobile reception remains biggest resident complaint
• AI viewed as helpful, yet councils use none

Pulse Analysis

Digital connectivity has moved from a technical nicety to a political imperative for UK local authorities. The latest FarrPoint survey shows that 80% of councils now place broadband, especially gigabit rollout, at the forefront of their agendas, reflecting pressure from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to justify infrastructure spend. As councils grapple with rural gaps and the need for digital inclusion, the demand for robust benefit assessments is rising, yet most lack the tools to deliver them.

The gap between ambition and evidence is stark. While 90% of councils cannot yet measure the economic or social impact of better connectivity, 70% express a desire for formal assessments but cite internal capacity constraints. Rural communities continue to suffer from poor mobile reception, and issues such as digital skills, affordability and device access remain barriers to realizing the promised uplift in Gross Value Added and wellbeing. Network resilience concerns, amplified by weather‑related outages, further complicate the value proposition for local leaders.

FarrPoint’s upcoming Digital Intervention Impact Forecaster seeks to close this evidence gap, offering a structured methodology to forecast economic, social and environmental returns before committing funds. Although 75% of councils see AI as a potential catalyst for smarter connectivity delivery, none have yet deployed AI tools, underscoring a broader hesitation to adopt emerging technologies. By providing a clear framework for impact quantification, the tool could help councils secure funding, shape policy debates, and ultimately translate infrastructure investments into measurable community benefits.