Summary
- Since 26 December 2022, Part R has two volumes: R1 (in-building physical infrastructure for buildings with major renovation) and RA1/R2 in Volume 1, requiring new dwellings to be built with gigabit-ready physical infrastructure and, where reasonably practicable within the cost cap, a connected gigabit-capable connection.
- The developer must obtain connectivity information from network operators and evidence the steps taken — a paper trail obligation that lands on whoever is coordinating the design.
- For small sites and one-off houses this is mostly a Stage 1 correspondence task: contact operators, record quotes against the £2,000 cost cap, and duct the site so fibre can arrive without excavation.
What the Building Safety Act requires for Part R on non-HRB jobs
Part R Volume 1 (new dwellings) requires gigabit-ready physical infrastructure — ducting from the plot boundary to a suitable termination point in the dwelling — and a gigabit-capable connection where one can be secured within the £2,000 per-dwelling cost cap. If not, the requirement steps down to the next best available (superfast, then standard) while still installing the gigabit-ready ducting.
Volume 2 applies R1 to buildings other than new dwellings undergoing major renovation: in-building physical infrastructure so occupants can be connected, with common access points for multi-occupancy buildings. Most domestic extension work is out of scope, but flat conversions and mixed-use refurbishments are frequently in it.
As Principal Designer (BSA) the duty is evidential: AD R expects the connectivity steps to be documented — operator enquiries, quotes, the option selected — and Building Control can ask for that documentation at completion. It is the least technical Approved Document and the most purely administrative; a tidy tracker entry with three attachments discharges it.
Key design risks and evidence needed (RIBA Stages 2–4)
- Stage 1–2: contact network operators serving the area (or check availability databases); record gigabit availability and indicative connection cost against the £2,000 cap.
- Stage 3: duct route from the highway boundary to the dwelling termination point coordinated with drainage and services trenches; internal termination location fixed (not behind the fridge).
- Stage 4: duct specification (typically 32–54 mm with draw rope, per operator requirements), access chamber positions, and the connectivity statement filed with the Building Control submission.
Standards and references you should be citing
- Approved Document R Volume 1 (2022) — gigabit-ready infrastructure and gigabit-capable connections for new dwellings.
- Approved Document R Volume 2 — R1 in-building physical infrastructure for major renovations.
- BS EN 50173 / BS EN 50174 series — structured cabling design and installation practice for in-building infrastructure.
- Openreach / altnet developer specifications — duct types, chamber details and lead-in requirements differ by operator; cite the chosen operator's spec.
Part R decision path for a new dwelling
| Step | Question | Evidence to log |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Is a gigabit-capable connection available within the £2,000 cap? | Operator responses / quotes |
| 2 | If not — is a superfast (≥30 Mbps) connection available? | Availability check record |
| 3 | Either way: install gigabit-ready ducting boundary-to-termination | Duct spec + as-built route drawing |
| 4 | File the connectivity documentation | Statement submitted with Building Control application |
Common pitfalls that catch out sole practitioners
- Treating Part R as a tick-box with no operator correspondence on file — the documentation is the compliance.
- Service trenches backfilled before the comms duct is in; coordinating it with the electric and water trench at Stage 3 costs nothing.
- Flat conversions missing R1's common-infrastructure requirement for multi-dwelling buildings.
- Confusing planning-stage 'broadband statements' demanded by some authorities with the Building Regulations Part R evidence — separate trails, both needed.
Frequently asked questions
Does Part R apply to a house extension?
No. Volume 1 applies to new dwellings (including conversions creating dwellings) and Volume 2's R1 applies to major renovation of buildings containing dwellings or workplaces. A straightforward domestic extension engages neither — record 'not applicable' with the reasoning in your tracker.
What if no gigabit network operator serves the site?
The requirement steps down: if a gigabit-capable connection cannot be secured within the £2,000 cost cap, provide the next best available connection, and in all cases install gigabit-ready physical infrastructure (ducting to a termination point) so the dwelling can be connected later without civils. Keep the operator correspondence as evidence.
Track this natively instead of in Word templates
PD Pathway gives small practices an automated Parts A–T relevant-requirements tracker, stage-by-stage Principal Designer checklists and one-click compliance documents — built strictly for non-HRB projects. First project free, then from £10 per project or £99/yr unlimited.