GroundInvestigation InfrastructurePlanning UKInfrastructure EngineeringData DigitalConstruction

New UK bill aims to unlock geotechnical data and save billions in infrastructure projects

*Parliament proposal could save billions through ground data sharing. Source: Lustre Consulting*

A new legislative proposal in the United Kingdom aims to transform how geotechnical and ground investigation data is collected, stored, and shared across the construction and infrastructure sectors. The bill, introduced by Labour MP Mike Reader, seeks to ensure that information derived from boreholes, soil testing, rock cores, and groundwater investigations becomes accessible to planners and engineers through a standardized national framework.

Currently, large volumes of subsurface data are generated each year during construction and infrastructure projects across the UK. However, much of this information remains isolated within private project databases, commercially restricted, or lost between developments. As a result, similar ground investigations are frequently repeated on adjacent sites or in later projects, leading to unnecessary drilling costs, project delays, and increased risk.

The proposed legislation would address this issue by integrating geotechnical investigation data into the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR). While NUAR currently maps buried infrastructure such as pipes and cables, the new bill would expand its scope to include factual geological and geotechnical information about the ground itself.

The initiative is designed to support digital access, standardised data formats, and secure sharing mechanisms, ensuring engineers can reuse existing ground data during early-stage project planning and design.

Advocates of the bill argue that improved access to geotechnical data could generate significant economic benefits. Estimates suggest that systematic reuse of ground investigation data could contribute approximately £1.2 billion per year to the UK economy, primarily by reducing duplicated site investigations and lowering construction risks.

For context, the UK government already expects the existing National Underground Asset Register to generate around £400 million annually in savings by preventing accidental damage to buried utilities and improving planning efficiency.

Ground investigations themselves can represent a major infrastructure cost. For example, investigations undertaken for High Speed 2 Phase 1 reportedly exceeded £300 million, creating a vast dataset that currently remains inaccessible for future engineering projects.

Industry experts note that early access to geotechnical information allows engineers to better assess ground conditions, reduce uncertainty, optimize foundation design, and prevent costly redesign during construction. These improvements also have environmental benefits, as fewer redundant boreholes reduce drilling activities and associated carbon emissions.

The proposal builds on existing UK digital infrastructure initiatives and draws inspiration from countries such as the Netherlands, where national subsurface data systems have successfully improved planning efficiency and infrastructure delivery.

The bill has received support from multiple engineering, geological, and infrastructure organisations. Contributors to the proposal include experts from firms such as Arup, Mott MacDonald, AtkinsRéalis, Arcadis, as well as organisations including the British Geological Survey, the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists, and the British Drilling Association.

These stakeholders have highlighted how improved data sharing would reduce duplication of work, improve engineering safety, and create a more level playing field for contractors and consultants.

The proposal also reflects a long-standing principle in British engineering history. As early as 1835, prominent geologists advocated for systematic geological mapping to improve infrastructure development and reduce unnecessary resource expenditure. That initiative ultimately led to the establishment of the British Geological Survey, one of the world’s oldest geological institutions.

If passed, the bill would effectively update this legacy for the digital age, ensuring that the vast quantities of geotechnical data generated during modern construction projects can be reused to support national infrastructure delivery.

The legislation has now completed its first reading in Parliament and is scheduled for a second reading on 17 April 2026.

Sources: newcivilengineer.com, hansard.parliament.uk, construo.io