From 1 October 2014, people in five areas of the UK will need to include the area code whenever they dial a local number from a landline – in the same way people currently do when calling from mobile phones.

At present the code can be omitted for local calls from landlines , but this means Ofcom is unable to make available new local numbers beginning with a ‘zero’ or a ‘one’.
The change will free up new telephone numbers to be issued in areas where supplies are running low.

Which areas are affected?

The change will happen in five dialling code areas:

• Aberdeen (01224): Includes Aberdeen and the area to the west, including towns such as Westhill.
• Bradford (01274): Includes Bradford and the surrounding areas such as Baildon, Bingley, Cleckheaton and Shipley.
• Brighton (01273): Includes Brighton and Hove, as well as places such as Lewes, Newhaven, Peacehaven and Southwick.
• Middlesbrough (01642): Includes Middlesbrough and surrounding places such as Stockton, Redcar, Stokesley and Yarm.
• Milton Keynes (01908): Includes Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Newport Pagnell and an area to the north as far as Ravenstone.

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