A recent version of the OFTEL Specified Numbering Scheme (issued 24 May 2000) incorporates yet more changes to the designations for East Anglia.
It looks if the intention is now to combine certain adjacent groups on the same DE digits. The DE digits currently "allocated" in these groups have been "protected" in the groups with which they are to be combined.
However, no formal announcements have yet been made regarding this renumbering, and OFTEL have indicated that no changes will take place without public consulation, so please do not assume that that renumbering will take place as indicated, or, indeed, at all.
Note that the "designated" status for the previously designated DE digits (listed as "was to be" below) has not at this stage been removed. This is probably just an oversight.
So the updated prospective new numbering scheme for East Anglia is as follows ("DE" digits have been designated in the following areas, and the same "DE" digits have been "protected" in adjacent areas):
DE Code Area
20 01234 Bedford
21 ?
22 01485 Docking *&* 01328 Fakenham <ex 26, originally 28>
23 ? <was to be 01553 Kings Lynn>
24 ?
25 ? <was to be 01366 Downham Market>
26 ? <was to be 01328 Fakenham <originally 28>>
27 ? <was to be 01760 Swaffham>
28 01366 Downham Market <ex 25> *&* 01553 Kings Lynn
<ex 23>
<was to be 01638 Newmarket <originally 26>>
29 01708 Romford
30 01354 Doddington
31 01953 Attleborough <originally 84> *&* 1760 Swaffham
<ex 27>
32 01508 Brooke *&* 01986 Bungay <ex 77>
33 01263 Cromer
34 01493 Great Yarmouth <originally 31>
35 ?
36 01449 Stowmarket *&* 01359 Pakenham <ex 63>
37 01255 Clacton-on-Sea
38 01362 Dereham
39 01763 Royston *&* 01799 Saffron Walden <ex 47>
40 01638 Newmarket <ex 28 ex 26> <was to be 01284 Bury
St.Edmunds>
41 01462 Hitchin
42 ?
43 01353 Ely
44 ?
45 ?
46 01842 Thetford <originally 21>
47 ? <was to be 01799 Saffron Walden>
48 01787 Sudbury *&* 01371 Great Dunmow <ex 72>
49 01992 Hoddesdon
50 ?
51 01767 Sandy
52 01692 North Walsham <originally 34>
53 01727 St.Albans <originally 52>
54 01438 Stevenage
55 ?
56 ?
57 01923 Watford
58 ?
59 01473 Ipswich
60 ?
61 01375 Grays Thurrock
62 01440 Haverhill
63 01376 Braintree <ex 65> <was to be 01359 Pakenham>
64 01442 Hemel Hempstead
65 01284 Bury St. Edmunds <ex 40> <was to be 01376
Braintree>
66 01480 Huntingdon
67 01920 Ware
68 ?
69 01525 Leighton Buzzard
70 ?
71 01945 Wisbech
72 ? <was to be 01371 Great Dunmow>
73 01487 Warboys
74 ?
75 01954 Madingley <originally 53>
76 ? <was to be 01502 Lowestoft>
77 ? <was to be 01986 Bungay>
78 ?
79 01223 Cambridge
80 ? <"80" has recently been "Designated"
in most areas of the UK>
81 01379 Diss
82 ?
83 01702 Southend-on Sea
84 01728 Saxmundham <originally 75>
85 01733 Peterborough
86 ?
87 01394 Felixstowe
88 01502 Lowestoft <ex 76> <was to be 01621 Maldon>
89 ?
90 ?
91 ?
92 ?
93 ?
94 01245 Chelmsford <new allocation> *&* 01621 Maldon
<ex 88>
95 ?
96 ?
97 ?
98 ?
99 <not available>
The most noticeable omissions from this list are still 01206 Colchester, 01268 Basildon, 01277 Brentwood, 01279 Bishops Stortford and 01603 Norwich. The remaining "East Anglian" groups - 01406 Holbeach, 01494 High Wycombe, 01604 Northampton, 01707 Potters Bar, 01775 Spalding, 01778 Bourne, 01780 Stamford, 01832 Oundle and 01933 Wellingborough - are on the western fringe of the area and thus might be included in a different future numbering zone.
Some of these omissions are covered by a more recent issue of the Specified Numbering Scheme - this page will be updated in due course.