A TARGET to bring superfast broadband to the vast majority of Hampshire will be missed, a highly critical report has warned.

It will be September 2015 before 90 per cent of county homes and companies get speeds of at least 24 megabits-per-second (24Mbps).

That is four months later than the Government deadline of May 2015.

Business and council leaders spoke of their disappointment last night.

Jimmy Chestnutt, executive director of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said it was “very unwelcome news”.

He said: “Broadband is essential for many hi-tech industries in this area. Some have got what they need but many haven’t. If this area is to be competitive we need broadband and need it quickly.

“This is an old problem and one or two organisations have taken their eyes off the ball, not prioritised it hard enough and are now paying the price.”

Cllr Barry Rickman, leader of New Forest District Council, said: “It’s a bit of a shame because of the economy of the New Forest in particular. It’s something we need to get into action as fast as possible.”

Meanwhile, the much-trumpeted £1.2 billion superfast plans – hailed by ministers as the best in Europe – will cost taxpayers an extra £207m, according to the National Audit Office, the public spending watchdog.

However, Hampshire County Council has insisted its plans are “on track” and offer outstanding value for money, with the lowest cost-per-premises of any area.

It vowed that funding is in place to ensure 3,500 rural premises enjoy speeds of at least 2Mbps – a basic service, required to watch the BBC iPlayer, for example.

There have been growing fears that residents without even basic speeds would be in trouble, as more Government benefits and services move online.

In a statement, it said: “Hampshire County Council would like to reassure the residents and businesses who currently experience slow broadband that the programme to bring improvements is still on track. The first premises in Hampshire to benefit are due to go live in January 2014, with engineers commencing work to build the network in the next few months.”

Council chiefs are in partnership with BT to bring superfast broadband to 90 per cent of homes and offices – up from just 70.4 per cent last year.

The average speed across Hampshire was just 13.6Mbps last autumn, when just 9.4 per cent of premises had opted to receive superfast speeds.

In the Isle of Wight, the 90 per cent target will not be reached until February 2017 – almost two years after the May 2015 deadline.

In Hampshire, councils have put in £5m for new fibre lines and infrastructure, a sum matched by the Government, with the remaining £3.8m invested by BT.