PPS 10 Telecommunications·Page 29·A5
Early provision of underground ducting to avoid future costs and disruption
Underground ducting should be installed during the design and construction stage to avoid future occupiers facing considerable expense and potential inability to place wires underground, with telecommunications operators normally willing to use adequate and suitable ducting if available.
Where provision for underground ducting of cables is not made available at the design and construction stage, it may not be possible for future occupiers of land to ensure that future wires are placed underground (that will be a matter for the operator). Even where it is possible, it may involve the occupier in considerable expense. It is therefore better to seek the installation of adequate ducting as part of the development at the outset. Telecommunications operators will normally wish to make use of it, if it is available and suitable for their purpose.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/regional/PPS 10 - Telecommunications.pdf