New legislation that was debated in Parliament for the first time on November 19 will reduce the time spent on roadworks by creating a complete digital map of the UK’s underground pipes and cables.
The Data Use and Access Bill will put The National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) on a legal foundation, making sure owners of underground infrastructure, including water companies and telecom operators, register their assets.
The use of the Register will mean that companies will know where any underground asset is placed, making construction safer for workers and reducing the disruption and hazards caused by holes being dug up in the streets.
This map aims to minimise the risk of accidents involving underground water and energy pipes, as well as broadband cables. Currently, there are around 60,000 such incidents each year, leading to prolonged roadwork disruptions and limited access to essential services like energy and broadband for homes.
This initiative will generate over £400 million annually, boost construction and address accidental damage that currently costs the UK economy £2.4 billion each year.
The National Underground Asset Register is just one component of the broader Data Use and Access Bill. This proposed legislation aims to unlock the potential of data to enhance by £10 billion and to free up millions of hours for police and NHS staff.
The Data Use and Access Bill was introduced to Parliament last month and was debated for the first time in Parliament earlier this week.
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science and Technology, told Express.co.uk: “In the Second World War Britons were urged to ‘Dig For Victory. But today, spades in the ground too often results in misery for people going about their daily business.
“Every seven seconds, construction workers or utility companies make a hole in the ground, resulting in a whopping 60,000 accidents a year when, for example, the gas company strikes a water mains they didn’t know was there.
“So it’s no wonder us Brits dread roadworks so much – they often last so much longer than we’re promised.
“Through our new laws, we’re calling time on this and creating a complete map of all the pipes and cables under our feet, so that once again we can dig, with confidence, for victory in the fight for new homes and infrastructure and the fight against 14 years of economic stagnation.”
