They are not cabinets, they are pillars.

Secondary Cross Connection Points. In this case off of the exchange MDF numbered E/1 instead of off the cabinet where you will see them numbered 1/1 for example.

Pillars were used for cross connection back in the day because the cables out of the cabinet or MDF in this case was lead and without a pillar you would be lead plumbing every time a pair needed to be diverted.

I've used that trick to go around the village and check all of the streets. All streets within 800 meters of the cabinet are connected to E1. However only two areas can't get FTTC, both of these were built around 25 years ago and appear to be served by underground cables. All of the others have overhead cables and FTTC.

Maybe this is the issue, if by chance the underground cables were aluminium and not copper would this stop FTTC being available? Or maybe they were missed off a survey, out of sight out of mind.

MrSaffron,
Many thanks, hopefully it is an error and it will be sorted.

Al would reduce the distance over which good speeds are available