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Abstract: Over recent years, governments have been moving from a redistributive to a place-based approach when undertaking infrastructure investments, which are actually a priority of the EU agenda. This article discusses the shift from one perspective to the other, and explains the rationale, conditions and advantages of adopting a place-based approach for promoting local and regional development. As an illustrative example, it focuses on a single and large broadband infrastructure investment in the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Region, known as ‘Superfast Broadband’. A twofold objective is pursued while discussing this project. On one side, the paper illustrates the essential contribution provided by the EU funds in the implementation of such a large and resource-demanding project in the field of information and communications technology. On the other side, it shows how the place-based approach can be adopted to successfully address economic and social challenges in peripheral, lagging behind European regions.

Keywords: Regional Development; Place-Based; Broadband; Infrastructure Investments; Esi Funds