The UK’s safe digging industry recorded 3.9 million underground asset searches in 2024. Of these, more than 421,000 were highways related, with contractors and highways workers checking for pipes and cables every 17 seconds during the average working day, according to Digging up Britain 2025.
Launched today, the annual report from LSBUD, which analyses the digging activity across the country, found that people conducting digging work are now much more aware of the need to pre plan and check what’s there before they put a spade or digger in the ground. In fact, planned works accounted for 78% of all enquiries submitted – the highest proportion since records began.
Encouragingly, the number of new people searching before they dig has increased, with 44,273 new Users registered with LSBUD’s portal in the last year – a 38.1% rise in new Users compared with levels just four years ago.
Richard Broome, Managing Director at LSBUD, comments:
“With so many underground searches relating to highways projects in the UK, it is encouraging to see such a vast amount of people within the industry following best safe digging practices. The safe digging community is continuing to grow, and it’s clear from our data that more and more people understand the importance of searching before they dig – it’s become an automatic step.”
Last year also marked a record number of companies now voluntarily sharing their asset information to protect their pipes and cables, with nine new asset owners joining LSBUD’s growing list of 160 Members, ensuring over 2 million kilometres of underground pipes and cables are protected.
Broome continues:
“With a record-breaking number of Users and Members now registered on our system, digging has never been safer within the UK. We want to extend our thanks to every highways worker and company that used our services over the last year to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them.
“Of course, there is always more that can be done – especially if safe digging is to be for all, not just for the few. But, we’re happy with the fantastic progress that we’ve made so far.”
(Pic: LSBUD)
