Dig Once, Disrupt Less: Thames Water helps cut over 400 days of disruption in London, as part of the London Authority’s Infrastructure Coordination Service

• Thames Water, as part of the London Authority’s Infrastructure Coordination Service, and alongside other utility providers, has avoided over 400 days of disruption from London roads since April 2024. 
• The ‘Dig Once’ approach aims to reduce road network disruption through joint planning, as well as minimising impact on customers and the environment by sharing costs and resources.  
• This collaborative way of working is enhanced using the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) was recognised by the Mayor of London and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology during a recent visit in Crystal Palace.  

Since April 2024, Thames Water has successfully completed 23 joint working projects which has equated to over 400 days of disruption being removed from London roads, as part of the London Authority’s Infrastructure Coordination Service. The partnership brings together multiple utility providers to carry out infrastructure upgrades simultaneously, reducing the need for repeated excavations and roadwork permits.   
 
As part of the ‘Dig Once’ approach, which the company have been part of for six years, removing a total of 1068 days of disruption, one of the standout projects incorporated seven collaborators including Thames Water, which would have previously meant seven separate roadwork permits. Instead, the coordinated effort has allowed all parties to share the same trench and working space, significantly reducing disruption, and improving efficiency.  
 
Of note, the latest collaboration between Thames Water and UK Power Networks in Crystal Palace avoided 28 days of additional disruption, as Thames Water replaced an ageing water main, previously at risk of leaks and bursts. In parallel, UK Power Networks installed extra high voltage electric cables to increase power capacity to the area. This coordinated approach has significantly minimised environmental impact and reduced inconvenience for customers and the local community, namely by reducing noise and air pollution, easing the burden on road users, residents, and nearby businesses. 
 
The Crystal Palace project recognised the benefits of The National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) attended by The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle. As part of the Data Use and Access Act 2025, which has recently been passed by Parliament, it will be mandatory for owners of buried assets to sign up to NUAR. NUAR promises to revolutionise the way underground infrastructure is installed, maintained, and repaired across the UK. By providing secure, centralised access to detailed location data on underground pipes and cables—both publicly and privately owned—NUAR will enhance the efficiency, safety, and coordination of street works in London and beyond. 
 
Thames Water’s Collaboration Lead, Thomas Chambers said, “Our purpose is to deliver life's essential service, so our customers, communities and the environment can thrive. London’s growing population and changing climate means that replacing or upgrading ageing utility networks has never been more important. Unsurprisingly this has meant the amount of street works that take place on a yearly basis has also increased. The need to collaborate with other utility providers is needed more now than ever. This allows us to maximise benefits for the business, our customers, our communities, and the environment”.  
 
Collaboration Manager at UK Power Networks Jackie Howard said “We’ve successfully completed several collaborative projects with Thames Water as part of the Greater London Collaboration Partnership. This way of working together has enabled us to engage in a joint up planning approach, which has minimised disruption for our customers, reduced costs and sped up the delivery of our work. We hope to see further collaboration with Thames Water and others in the future” 
 
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “London is leading the way in harnessing innovative technology that enables companies to share data and cut the frustrating delays caused by street works, so I’m delighted that this pioneering approach will now be rolled out across the country. We’ve already saved Londoners at least 1900 days of delays and disruption, so scaling that up nationally under this new Bill has huge potential benefits for our economy and wider society, as we build a better London and beyond.”