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Advice on “Building over a Sewer permission” required?
goneracing
Posts: 49 Forumite
I have applied for planning permission and building regs for an extension and detached garage. Building Control have informed the water board who are asking me to apply for permission to build over a sewer.
The thing is, according to the criteria on the application paperwork, permission will not be needed.
Let me explain. There are 2 sewers running within the boundary of my garden.
1. The first is a public sewer with manhole that has easements to allow access etc. This is about 30m from the property as it is now. After the new build, this sewer will be 9m at it’s closest point, and that’s in the next door but one’s garden. (My property is not connected to this sewer).
2. The second sewer is at the rear of my property and takes my foul water away. The planned extension will be built over this. BUT, my property is at the top of the hill therefore this sewer originates on my property and runs downhill along the rear of other properties before reaching the main sewer. As I am the only user of this section this is classed as a private sewer and I am solely responsible up-to where my neighbour connects which is about 10m after it has left my property. (this is stated as a FAQ in the paperwork)
So, According to the paperwork and internet research I am responsible for the private Sewer which, subject to building regs etc. I can do what I want with it. And as for the public Sewer I only need permission if building within 3m of it.
As we are all into money saving I am reluctant to just fill the application in and send the fee for them to grant permission if I don’t really need it. Alternatively I don’t want to just build it and cause problems / greater costs further down the line.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
The thing is, according to the criteria on the application paperwork, permission will not be needed.
Let me explain. There are 2 sewers running within the boundary of my garden.
1. The first is a public sewer with manhole that has easements to allow access etc. This is about 30m from the property as it is now. After the new build, this sewer will be 9m at it’s closest point, and that’s in the next door but one’s garden. (My property is not connected to this sewer).
2. The second sewer is at the rear of my property and takes my foul water away. The planned extension will be built over this. BUT, my property is at the top of the hill therefore this sewer originates on my property and runs downhill along the rear of other properties before reaching the main sewer. As I am the only user of this section this is classed as a private sewer and I am solely responsible up-to where my neighbour connects which is about 10m after it has left my property. (this is stated as a FAQ in the paperwork)
So, According to the paperwork and internet research I am responsible for the private Sewer which, subject to building regs etc. I can do what I want with it. And as for the public Sewer I only need permission if building within 3m of it.
As we are all into money saving I am reluctant to just fill the application in and send the fee for them to grant permission if I don’t really need it. Alternatively I don’t want to just build it and cause problems / greater costs further down the line.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
0
Comments
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Have you asked the Water Board why they think you need permission?Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️0
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If the pipe in question only takes foul water from your property and not from anywhere else it is not even a sewer, but a drain. The definition of a sewer is a pipe etc that takes drainage from more than one property.
I would definitely ask why a building over agreement is needed.RICHARD WEBSTER
As a retired conveyancing solicitor I believe the information given in the post to be useful assuming any properties concerned are in England/Wales but I accept no liability for it.0
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