Great news from our neighbours in Humshaugh & Warden, where the next stage of B4RN’s North East network is moving forward!
It is particularly exciting for us at B4NTR as this is a continuation of the network which joins into B4RN at our Barrasford cabinet and is now continuing onwards to bring full-fibre broadband to more of rural Northumberland.
Back in 2024 we reported that B4NTR was growing into the much larger B4RN North East project. The Barrasford, Kirkwhelpington and Woodburn build formed part of the second phase of that expansion, covering around 1,300 properties, with a further phase planned to reach thousands more properties across areas including Humshaugh, Warden, Simonburn, Wall & Sandhoe, Kielder, Tarset & Falstone, Hexhamshire and beyond.
It’s fantastic to now see that next part becoming a reality.
Humshaugh Phase 1 has now moved into construction, with the project formally handed over from B4RN’s Development Team to its Build Team in August. Local volunteers have played an important part in getting the project to this stage, with surveys completed and the new network planned ready for construction.
And the good news doesn’t stop there!
Work is now underway on Humshaugh & Warden Phase 2, with B4RN and local volunteers working on wayleaves and the preparations needed to allow construction to follow directly on from Phase 1.
The project is asking anyone in the Phase 2 area who hasn’t already done so to complete an Expression of Interest, and those considering investing in B4RN to submit their pledge. The current target is October 2026, which would allow Phase 2 to follow straight on from the first build without unnecessary delay.
It’s brilliant to see the network continuing to spread out from Barrasford and into the next communities.
When B4NTR began, our aim was to make sure that rural properties in our part of Northumberland weren’t left behind simply because they were difficult or uneconomic for the large commercial networks to reach.
Seeing the infrastructure that our volunteers, landowners, investors and B4RN worked so hard to establish now becoming part of a much larger network stretching further across rural Northumberland is something everyone involved with B4NTR can be proud of.
Well done to everyone involved in Humshaugh & Warden – we look forward to watching the network continue to grow!
