Navigating the New Building Regulations: Ensuring Gigabit-Ready Homes

The Challenge

The UK's recent building regulations, effective from 26 December 2022, have presented a modern challenge for small to medium developers. These regulations mandate the installation of gigabit-ready infrastructure and gigabit-capable connections for new homes. While these changes aim to future-proof homes for the digital age, the journey to compliance can be cumbersome.

Many developers find themselves reaching out to national ISPs—BT, Talk Talk, Sky, Virgin, and others. But these giants often don't cater to individual developers, leaving many without a clear path to meeting these new requirements. This is where 1310 can help.

Why Choose 1310?

  1. Tailored Approach: Unlike the giants, 1310 is built to cater to individual developers. We are agile and responsive, ensuring that your needs are met without unnecessary delays.

  2. Openreach CP: As an Openreach Communications Provider, we have the expertise and resources to utilise Openreach's "New Sites" offering, enabling us to get accurate quotes and construct new infrastructure tailored to your development.

  3. Flexible Connectivity Solutions: Apart from leveraging Openreach, we can also connect using other national or regional providers or even our own fibre infrastructure. This means increased options and more reliable solutions for your project.

Our Service Offering

  1. Initial Engagement: For a fee of £500, 1310 will officially partner with you, going on record as your dedicated provider ready to ensure your development meets the new building regulations.

  2. Connectivity Plan Submission: Once partnered, we'll assist you in submitting a 'connectivity plan', ensuring compliance with the requirements as per Volume 1 of the updated Approved Document R.

  3. Openreach New Sites Application: We manage the entire application process with Openreach's "New Sites" service, ensuring seamless infrastructure setup for your development.

  4. Confirmation Letter: Upon completion of the initial processes, you’ll receive a confirmation letter for Building Control, affirming your adherence to the necessary steps for ensuring gigabit-ready connectivity, akin to the standard Bat Survey required by Natural England.

  5. Project Completion: With the plans in place, we'll oversee the installation and activation of your high-speed FTTP broadband service, ensuring your development is not just compliant but also primed for the future.

The Process: Stages, Timelines, and Costs

  1. Engagement: Pay the £500 fee and provide the necessary information for the project.

  2. Confirmation: Once the application is in process, you'll promptly receive your confirmation letter for Building Control and or Planning Authority.

  3. Plan Submission: Within 7-10 business days connectivity plan submission.

  4. Quotation for connectivity: A quotation will be provided to you for approval. This is the cost of connecting your new house onto the network. There are additional fees added by Openreach for “late” submissions. Get this in before any works begin!

  5. Application Management: Over the next 8-12 weeks, we will manage the Openreach New Sites application, keeping you informed every step of the way.

  6. Project Fulfilment: Depending on the project's scope and infrastructure requirements, the completion timeline can vary. However, rest assured, with 1310, your project is in experienced hands.

  7. Provision of connectivity: Once the building is complete and the services installed we will provide a contracted broadband service and equipment to the property.

Ready to Future-Proof Your Development?

1310 is here to simplify the process, ensuring your new homes are ready for the digital age. Let's ensure your development meets the new building regulations without the hassles of navigating the complexities.

Enquire Now

James Cartwright, Cartwright Developments

When we were first faced with the updated building regulations, we were at a loss. Having reached out to several of the larger ISPs, we were met with silence or automated responses. Then we found 1310. From the moment we made our initial inquiry, their responsiveness was unparalleled. The team at 1310 not only provided immediate clarity but also meticulously hand-held us through every step of the process.

Navigating the new regulations would have been an insurmountable challenge without their expertise. With the clock ticking and our planning permission at stake, 1310's involvement became the linchpin to our project's go-ahead. Without them, we simply wouldn’t have met the building regulations in time and the construction of our development might have been in jeopardy.

We're immensely grateful for the tailored support and guidance 1310 provided. For any developer seeking to meet these new regulations, I can't recommend them enough..”