Thanks everyone for the responses. It's good to see that people have had success with private roads and fibre companies are willing to help but it's not easy and some restrictions may not be surmountable soon.

In terms of my own experience, here's what I found out so far. After posting here a member of the community engagement team at All Points Fibre reached out to me and offered to do an investigation on the particular road. I've been thoroughly impressed with the amount of research they've done for a house I've not yet bought so massive credit to them. Here's what they said:

- The estate I'm interested in comprises of 3 private roads with a total of 67 houses
- There's no telegraph poles on the site at all and limited ducting
- Installing poles would be cheapest but is seen as a no-go as likely residents would object as there are none today
- Ducting can be done but due to the cost and disruption they'd want at least 25/67 houses to be interested (they offered to do a mailshot to get registrations to gauge this)
- If there is sufficient demand then the next hurdle is the wayleaves, apparently 6 of the houses each own a portion of the road - it wasn't clear at this stage if all 6 would need to agree or a majority would be sufficient - either way this may be difficult

For all these complications the build was put on-hold but could potentially be done. I was told OpenReach would likely face the same problems with wayleaves so aren't a silver bullet.

I think based on one of the responses here, even with a helpful fibre company the outcome is not in my hands and I have to go into the purchase assuming the worst case.

In reply to a post by Morfik:

I think based on one of the responses here, even with a helpful fibre company the outcome is not in my hands and I have to go into the purchase assuming the worst case.

Yes, and I would advise great caution.

If this is your "forever" house: then that's how long you may be waiting for decent broadband.

If it isn't: then remember it's going to become increasingly difficult to sell a house without decent broadband. Right now Openreach provides 42% UK FTTP coverage, 65% have some sort of FTTP and 80% have some sort of gigabit service.

Even just the Openreach FTTP figure is projected to reach 85% by Dec 2026. If you're lucky, you'll be in the 43% who gain FTTP between now and then; but if not (and it seems there are multiple reasons that make this property difficult/expensive to connect) you could be lumbered.

In reply to a post by Morfik:

the next hurdle is the wayleaves, apparently 6 of the houses each own a portion of the road - it wasn't clear at this stage if all 6 would need to agree or a majority would be sufficient - either way this may be difficult

For those portions which are uniquely owned by one party, that party has an absolute veto over their land - unless there are wayleave rights in their deeds already - eg "A right of passage for the residents of N1 to N2 for the passage of water sewerage, electricity and telecommunications". S

Similarly for portions owned between several parties, then jointly and severally, they will have a right of veto, unless their ownership agreement specifies otherwise, but this will be entirely between the joint owners. Slightly more prospects there, since there may be dissent between the owners.

As candlerb says, t's going to become increasingly difficult to sell a house without decent broadband. My own inclination would be to approach the sellers with this argument and state what is necessary to get fibre connected - eg "wayleave from X Y and Z over PQ and R given to the house you want to buy for your agents to connect telecommunications systems". Obviously, you need a switched on solicitor on board, so if you are using a conveyancing factory, forget it.

In a quick market, you may lose the house to someone not so fussy, but in a slowing market you may strike lucky and have your seller sort it. The advantage of doing it this way is that there is no risk to you and the sellers have relationships established up the street. If they are good relationships, people will be more likely to assist them than they would to help you as the newbie on the street. And better still, if relationships are bad, the neighbours will be only to pleased to grease the path of your sellers away from the street.

In reply to a post by APTMAN:

I live in a small village and on a private lane, it's a mixture of pole and there are only two houses with UG Duct (mine being one of them because I put it in when I built this house and I have my own 4 way CBT in my manhole). BT and contractors installed.

I would send an email to [removed by tbb] he will get the team to look into it.
One of his team phoned me up when I was inquiring about FTTP, 6 months later it was being installed.

The Clive Selley email is the winner. Thank you to @Aptman. I sent an email this morning, got a reply this afternoon and a phone call from an extremely friendly member of Openreach.

Some background I live on the outskirts of a village on a lane of the main road. All properties in the village and beyond have fibre, we don't.

I was informed that we were excluded from the build plan as a gulley was needed to extract water. Where I am now is that the kind person at OR is going to arrange a site visit for the planner in my area to see what is possible. This is a lot more positive than being told that there are no plans.

Thanks again APTMAN

Edited by seb (Mon 02-Feb-26 21:36:30)

I'm on a new (2016-2019) infill in a 50s area. Private road (jointly owned by home owners). Old houses have virgin, not here.
So I moved in (2021) with some frustration, though we did have FTTC.

BT installed FTTP a few years ago. Invisible - I work at home and hadn't even noticed them installing anything, but sure enough ordered. and was hooked up to a splitter that popped up from one of the ducts in the road.

So all seamless

Cityfibre have been installing in the city for years. Not got to our area yet, and not clear if private road will be an issue. I guess the good news is we all get on well and I suspect wayleave wouldn't be an issue (if they ask!)

That being said, I'm very happy with openreach in general. Faster upload is my main annoyance

In reply to a post by planetf1:

Cityfibre have been installing in the city for years. Not got to our area yet, and not clear if private road will be an issue.

If there are existing Openreach ducts, there will be no issue - Cityfibre will just pull their fibres through those. No need for any additional wayleave.

In reply to a post by planetf1:

Faster upload is my main annoyance

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2024/08/openre...
https://www.openreach.com/news/openreach-launch-firs...

But the information so far is contradictory as to whether:
1. It will be available for existing GPON users, or relates to an XGS-PON rollout (OR says users "will be able to use their existing ONT")
2. If it will be a trial, or a full "go live" in April
3. If it will be available in all areas, or certain Project Gigabit areas only

And so far there's no information as to which ISPs will offer it. If it's like the 1.8G down/120M up product, then the answer could be "very few". Nor, of course, the cost.