Building over public sewer
Discussion
Hi,
Any help appreciated from those with knowledge of the subject. I would like to know where a householder stands from a legal perspective if they wish to build over a public sewer. I understand all water companies have their own polices on this but what if the water company appears to be unreasonably withholding or delaying consent? I can't find any particular statute that covers this. The reason I am asking is that I am trying to build a garage which is not over but comes within three metres of a large culvert underneath my property. The process has taken many months (almost a year now) and the water company keep stipulating various requirements, are very slow to get back to us and have created a situation where the foundations are more complicated/expensive than I think should be necessary. The whole thing seems a moot point, at least in terms of the load applied (which is one of their concerns and has led to the need for a lightweight construction) as the culvert also passes beneath a road which lorries could potentially drive over.
Thanks for any advice or pointers.
Steve
Any help appreciated from those with knowledge of the subject. I would like to know where a householder stands from a legal perspective if they wish to build over a public sewer. I understand all water companies have their own polices on this but what if the water company appears to be unreasonably withholding or delaying consent? I can't find any particular statute that covers this. The reason I am asking is that I am trying to build a garage which is not over but comes within three metres of a large culvert underneath my property. The process has taken many months (almost a year now) and the water company keep stipulating various requirements, are very slow to get back to us and have created a situation where the foundations are more complicated/expensive than I think should be necessary. The whole thing seems a moot point, at least in terms of the load applied (which is one of their concerns and has led to the need for a lightweight construction) as the culvert also passes beneath a road which lorries could potentially drive over.
Thanks for any advice or pointers.
Steve
I had this and the solution was a decent architect, he wasn't big bucks and he sorted all the building codes and drains issues out with a couple of phone calls to the right people. Basically you cannot put load onto the drain which I ssem to remember means that a line drawn up at 45 degrees from the drain must not intersect your foundation. In my case I wanted to build close to a deep drain so the solution was a ground beam. The architect designed this and the permission took only a few weeks.
Unfortunately what you describe is not uncommon. The water companies do not have to agree and the terms on which they are prepared to agree are often onerous and off-putting to later buyers. I once dealt with a property right in the City and there was an agreement which stated clearly that any alteration to the property was subject to Thames Water approval. That covered everything including, if taken literally, replacing the front door or any of the windows which could not have had any bearing on the water system but TW's response was that they didn't care.
For a domestic property I would question whether it is worth the hassle. Any build over agreement would include a right for the company to do any works they like and not be responsible for the costs of reinstatement. Their principle is that their system is there and if you want to build over it you have to accept their terms.
For a domestic property I would question whether it is worth the hassle. Any build over agreement would include a right for the company to do any works they like and not be responsible for the costs of reinstatement. Their principle is that their system is there and if you want to build over it you have to accept their terms.
You need to kick up a stink with the local council.
The extension to my property was built over the waste drain taking sewage from mine and 6 other properties, to join up with the main sewer at the end of my garden. There were no planning issues at the time it was built.
When we had problems a couple of years ago the water authority just rerouted the whole pipe away from my extension, and blocked the old pipe off.
The extension to my property was built over the waste drain taking sewage from mine and 6 other properties, to join up with the main sewer at the end of my garden. There were no planning issues at the time it was built.
When we had problems a couple of years ago the water authority just rerouted the whole pipe away from my extension, and blocked the old pipe off.
Monkeylegend said:
You need to kick up a stink with the local council.
The extension to my property was built over the waste drain taking sewage from mine and 6 other properties, to join up with the main sewer at the end of my garden. There were no planning issues at the time it was built.
When we had problems a couple of years ago the water authority just rerouted the whole pipe away from my extension, and blocked the old pipe off.
Been involved with these diversions before and survey inspections pre & post works.The extension to my property was built over the waste drain taking sewage from mine and 6 other properties, to join up with the main sewer at the end of my garden. There were no planning issues at the time it was built.
When we had problems a couple of years ago the water authority just rerouted the whole pipe away from my extension, and blocked the old pipe off.
You play ball with the relevant authority you wont have a problem.
Most of the time its down to whoever you engage to carry out the design & build.
Bear in mind the water authority have right of access to public sewers so don't end up with inaccessible manholes either inside or outside they cause all sorts of issues. And as for the nuggets who bury them under a tiled floor then expect compensation when it has to be broken out DOH
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