Underground cable trench with coiled cabling in a rural setting

Telecoms Wayleaves

Been approached about a telecoms wayleave agreement?
Wayleaves grant licensed operators certain rights over your land, often more extensive than landowners expect. We negotiate terms that protect your interests, whatever your future plans for the land or building may be.

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Telecoms wayleave agreements, negotiated properly

A telecoms wayleave is a Code agreement granting 100 licensed Code operators the rights to install, inspect, alter, replace, upgrade and repair apparatus on, over or under your land. If you have been approached about laying copper or fibre, the rights involved may surprise you. The Code applies equally to fibre providers, mobile network operators and broadcasters.

We bring extensive experience in both greenfield and commercial wayleaves, negotiating terms tailored to your needs within the jurisdiction of the new Code. Our knowledge of case law and recent Upper Tribunal judgments, including Hanover, Dale Park and Maple House, helps us secure agreements that protect your interests while preserving flexibility for future plans involving your land or buildings.

We aim to ensure that clients benefit from minimal disturbance to their property and fair compensation, while operators still achieve their connectivity goals across the UK. Since 1991, we have advised over 900 corporate and private landowners on matters exactly like this.

KEY CONTACTS

Tom Bodley Scott
MRICS FAAV
Tunbridge Wells

01892 509280

Email Tom

Robin Whatley
MRICS
Tunbridge Wells

01892 577430
Email Robin

Common questions about telecoms wayleaves

It’s a Code agreement granting a licensed operator rights to install, inspect, alter, replace, upgrade and repair apparatus on, over or under your land. Over 100 operators currently hold this kind of licence.

Not automatically, but operators do hold real statutory rights under the new Code, so the position is different to a standard licence request. Getting advice before responding puts you in a much stronger negotiating position.

No. The new Code applies equally to fibre providers, mobile network operators and broadcasters, so a wayleave can cover copper or fibre cabling just as much as mobile infrastructure.

It can, if the agreement isn’t negotiated carefully. We work to secure terms that protect your position and don’t hamper any future plans you have for the land or buildings.

An individual wayleave covers a single site, while a bulk wayleave handles multiple applications across a wider area, such as a district or borough, under one negotiated framework.