Guidance

National Underground Asset Register (NUAR)

Information on the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR).

From:
Cabinet Office and Geospatial Commission
Published
22 March 2022
Last updated
512 April 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

About NUAR

The Geospatial Commission is building a digital map of underground pipes and cables that will revolutionise the way we install, maintain, operate and repair our buried infrastructure - the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR).

The emerging service is improving the efficiency and safety of underground works by providing secure access to privately and publicly owned location data about the pipes and cables beneath our feet. The digital map gives planners and excavators standardised access to the data they need, when they need it, to carry out their work effectively and safely. It also includes features to keep data secure and improve its quality over time.

The initial version of NUAR went live in April 2023 and covers North East England, Wales and London. It includes data from all of the major energy and water companies in these areas, as well as numerous smaller and public sector organisations.

NUAR is currently a BETA service and will be iteratively enhanced in line with user feedback. Once complete, NUAR will cover England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Find out more:

In the video below, we provide an introduction to NUAR and its objectives.

NUAR explainer

This slide deck gives you a general overview of the objectives and plans for NUAR:

A guide to NUAR

PDF, 15.7 MB, 16 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

More information about NUAR can be found in our FAQs document:

NUAR FAQs

PDF, 82.6 KB, 6 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Getting involved

Do you work for a utility or telecommunications company or transport/local authority?

  • If your organisation (or the organisation you are working on behalf of) operates in North East England, Wales or London and is fully signed up to NUAR, you may be able to access the service now. Contact your organisation’s designated system admin who will have more details. If you do not know who your designated system admin is, please contact our Service Desk.

  • If your organisation is not yet fully signed up, or operates elsewhere in England or in Northern Ireland, contact our onboarding team at nuarcontact@atkinsglobal.com who will explain what you need to do to be given access next.

  • If you are already using the NUAR service and have questions, you can contact our Service Desk.

NUAR Service Desk

Email: Nuar.Support@atkinsglobal.com

Tel: 01454 662300

The Service Desk is available 8am9am to 6pm5pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays in England and Wales.

If you have questions about the wider work of the Geospatial Commission, please get in touch via geospatialcommission@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

The story so far

  1. April 2019: NUAR pilot phase announced

  2. June 2020: Update report published following the completion of pilots

  3. September 2021:Build phase of NUAR announced

  4. November 2021: NUAR economic case published

  5. June 2022: NUAR consultation on potential legislative reform and the proposed future operating model closed

  6. October 2022: Project update report published marking the first anniversary of the build phase

  7. April 2023: First phase of NUAR launched covering North East England, Wales and London

Blog posts about NUAR

NUAR available to users in first UK locations

Atkins highlight how NUAR will benefit people and business in Wales

Northumbrian Water Group explain the importance of NUAR and their experience of being involved in the pilot phase of the project

The Geospatial Commission team behind NUAR explain why the project is needed

Atkins highlight how NUAR will benefit people and business in Wales

Published 22 March 2022
Last updated 512 April 2023 + show all updates

  1. Blog link added - NUAR available to users in first UK locations

  2. 'About NUAR' and 'Getting Involved' sections updated.

  3. Updated version of "NUAR in a nutshell" document added

  4. Project update added to "The story so far" section

  5. New NUAR in a Nutshell document added which includes participation progress update

  6. New intro video and new NUAR platform video replacing previous videos

  7. NUAR in a nutshell document changed from 'Coming Soon' to the 'Future of NUAR'

  8. NUAR consultation details added

  9. NUAR in a nutshell document added

  10. NUAR prototype platform video added

  11. First published.

Contents