First UK areas access new digital map of underground pipes and cables

• Accidental strikes on the pipes and cables beneath our feet cost the UK economy £2.4 billion each year and put workers’ safety and lives at risk
• The National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) is envisaged to deliver at least £350 million per year of economic growth through increased efficiency, reduced asset strikes and reduced disruptions for citizens and businesses
• The first phase of the NUAR has been launched covering North East England, Wales and London. 

The Geospatial Commission, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), has today launched a new digital map – built by Atkins - that will revolutionise the way we install, maintain, operate and repair the pipes and cables buried beneath our feet - the government's National Underground Asset Register (NUAR). 

This first phase of NUAR – also known as the minimum viable product - contains data from the public and private sector organisations who own pipes and cables in North East England, Wales and London. This includes all of the major energy and water providers, such as Northumbrian Water, Wales and West Utilities, Southern Electric Power Distribution and National Grid, as well as smaller providers of these services, telecommunications companies, transport organisations and local authorities.

Dr Steve Unger, Independent Commissioner, Geospatial Commission, said: "This first release of NUAR is a major milestone in a programme that will benefit everyone. By using the power of location data to plan and deliver street-works more effectively, it will improve the efficiency with which we supply essential services and it will minimise the disruption experienced by other road users. Many different asset types are buried beneath our feet, owned by many different organisations, large and small. We are delighted by the number of asset owners that have recognized the value of working with us, to make the data that they hold more accessible.”

Guy Ledger, Digital Director Atkins, said: “The creation of NUAR is a huge opportunity for productivity gains in the UK construction sector, and helps move it further towards a digital future.

“Every building and infrastructure project starts with a hole in the ground and, with NUAR, the risks, pain and inefficiencies of planning works and undertaking excavations will be significantly reduced.  

“And of course, we shouldn’t underestimate the benefits of reduced CO2 and improved air and noise quality that will result from fewer utility strikes.”

Once fully operational across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, NUAR will help improve efficiencies in construction and development, reduce disruption to the public and businesses (from extended road closures and congestion), improve workers’ safety and is envisaged to deliver at least £350 million economic growth per year.

Atkins was appointed in 2021 to deliver the Build Phase of NUAR, working with working with Ordnance Survey, 1Spatial, GeoPlace and the Greater London Authority. This phase consists of building a production minimum viable product, then enhancing and rolling it out to the remaining regions in England and to Northern Ireland.

Find out more about NUAR

Notes to editors  

About Atkins

Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies, employing over 18,300 people across the UK, North America, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe. We build long-term trusted partnerships to create a world where lives are enriched through the implementation of our ideas. You can view Atkins’ recent projects here.

About SNC-Lavalin

Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, technology and data to design, deliver and operate the most complex projects. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital – and delivered to clients in key strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear, Operations & Maintenance and Capital. News and information are available at snclavalin.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.