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newSites Q&A's

1. I'm acquiring some land and intend to develop it, what do I need to do first?

So that we can plan the provision of the Openreach network for your site, please send details of your project, including scaled site location and layout plans including plot numbers, to your local Openreach newSite office  as soon as you receive detailed planning permission.

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2. Does Openreach have any plant which my plans affect?

See the Locating our network section of the Openreach website for details on how to gain access to Openreach plans via Maps by Email (MBE), there is an annual charge for this service. We can supply paper copies of the plans showing the relevant existing Openreach plant, which incurs a small charge, if you require paper copies please contact your local newSites office.

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3. What do I do if there is Openreach apparatus on or near my piece of land?

When our network plant and equipment is affected by the work of others, Openreach, in common with other utility companies, has to follow the correct legal procedures. This helps to establish important details such as who must pay for any alteration work and also helps to determine the timescales which you can expect us to work within. If your work is likely to affect Openreach plant - for instance where your site interfaces with the existing public highway - you should contact our Network Alterations team to discuss the possible cost implications.

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4. Planning permission obtained, what do I need to do now?

It is important that your designated Openreach newSites office is supplied with a comprehensive final scaled clean plan (no trees etc.) of the site layout that includes plot numbers. Any subsequent amendments or layout changes to the original proposal will require updating and this will need to be amended by your newSites designer to ensure a bespoke service is delivered. Please note: any re-work requests will incur relevant charges

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5. Will I be paid for the work done on behalf of Openreach?

Payment for the construction and installation of the Openreach network on new developments may be made on a per unit basis, at a rate agreed between Openreach and the House Builders Federation (HBF). Please see the Payment Policies and HBF Agreement page  for further details.

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6. Does Openreach need any permissions?

Openreach will require a wayleave (consent in writing) to install, maintain, adjust, repair or alter Openreach plant under or over the development for the statutory purpose as defined in our Code of Practice. The only exception is where the owner is the person requiring the telephone service. In that case, the contract between Openreach and the owner is, in effect, the wayleave and gives Openreach permission to install cables across the land.

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7. How do I get telephone service to my site office?

To order your site office telephone service, please contact your preferred Communications Provider.

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8. What is expected of me?

Please send your site plans to your local Openreach newSite office at the earliest opportunity and we will assign you a newSite reference number. You will then need to arrange an appointment for an Openreach newSite representative to visit your site. This is an important visit, so please allow plenty of time, as this is when you will be informed of the chosen method of connection to the Openreach network. You will also be told about the respective engineering standards, which can also be found at Documentation and Information. When you have installed the network as required, you will need to tell Openreach when the property is ready for connection to the Openreach network.

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9. How will I get the Openreach materials for my development?

Once you have registered your site, as part of our service, we will assign an Openreach newSite representative to your development to liaise with your construction workforce or site manager, enabling the correct stores items and quantities to be delivered direct to your site. See Duct and Cabling  for further details.

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10. Are there any charges?

In certain circumstances, miscellaneous charges may be levied on developers and/or their contractors. These include; misuse and/or damage to plant, requests for underground service where our preferred method of service is overhead, requests for premium proposals (proposals required more than four weeks before the site start date or for costing purposes only), changes to site proposals and plant location map requests. Details on charges are available from your local newSites office.