Local council and SWW ride roughshod over homeowners

hair-dresser

Hi guys i hope someone can give me a bit of advice to a rather stressful problem... The local council are building a small development behind our property consisting of 3 apartments. We opposed an issue with a window looking into our twin daughters bedroom, but they passed it anyway...To rub salt in the wound now Southwest water want to stick a new sewer through our garden from this development to join the main sewer at front of our property. This means they want to demolish our garage and dig up our garden to do this. Also what they didnt realise was that we also had planning permission passed to build on the side and back of our property as well which we are getting prices on at the mo. Could they stop us building full stop if they put this sewer in?? What are the extra cost implications and are we reponsible for this?? And finally do we have to roll over and let them do this to us??? The guy from water board said that if we dont play ball they can get magistrates order, turn up with police and just stomp all oer our property........We just dont know where to turn as i assume it`s not a common problem.........

poppysarah

Building over sewers isn't normally allowed.

You need to speak to a solicitor.

The window looking in shouldn't normally be allowed ... did they not say it had to be frosted?

Sammy85_2

I cant answer all your questions, but i do know a little about building over sewers!

We have a sewer 6m from our house and are going through planning at the moment for an extension. We can only build within 3m of it, unless the structure is something such as a conservatory or garage, where access can be obtained by removing the structure.

Some water boards allow you to build over a sewer, but usually they require you to provide access to the sewer by either moving manholes if required (at your cost) or by providing access & manholes under your building. Our local water board also require you to pay for upgrading of the sewer you intend to build over, to helpfully reduce the chances of needing access for maintenance (not possible for us as it is a mainline sewer for the whole estate)

You really would need to speak to Southwest Water and find out exactly what their requirement are.

If i were you i would start building your extension (just the foundations) and then it'll make it more difficult for them as you have already started under the terms of your planning permission. If you havent started building then it may be easier for them to do their work.


Good luck

silvercar

To rub salt in the wound now Southwest water want to stick a new sewer through our garden from this development to join the main sewer at front of our property. This means they want to demolish our garage and dig up our garden to do this.

Your property, your land. Just say no.

hair-dresser

The sewer will run directly under the new side extension. But yes i think we will have to see a solicitor. what a bummer...........

hair-dresser

silvercar wrote: »

Your property, your land. Just say no.

They say that they have more rights over us than usual utilities, as with the magistrates order etc

G_M

silvercar wrote: »

Your property, your land. Just say no.

Not as easy as that unfortunately. Compulsory purchase orders etc. Utility companies can get permission to build over private land...

Get specialist legal advice (ie not just the local solicitor unless he happens to specialise!)

hair-dresser

poppysarah wrote: »

Building over sewers isn't normally allowed.

You need to speak to a solicitor.

The window looking in shouldn't normally be allowed ... did they not say it had to be frosted?

No they didn`t want to consider any compromise at all....bully`s........

Fire_Fox

Are you too late to appeal against the development? Appeals are arranged nationally not locally and they are effective - we have a bookies in a designated retail area against the wishes of both council and residents. If your planning permission predates the sewer idea I'd be inclined to crack on and put in foundations, I wouldn't be asking the water board what they want. They can't put a sewer under your extension, they will have to use someone else's garden.

hair-dresser

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Are you too late to appeal against the development? Appeals are arranged nationally not locally and they are effective - we have a bookies in a designated retail area against the wishes of both council and residents. If your planning permission predates the sewer idea I'd be inclined to crack on and put in foundations, I wouldn't be asking the water board what they want. They can't put a sewer under your extension, they will have to use someone else's garden.

They reckon they can push through and be digging through our place in 3 weeks, so we have no hope of digging foundation as we haven`t secured a builder yet.Now they know about our planning, they are trying to railroad us quickly to get in .......

Fire_Fox

hair-dresser wrote: »

They reckon they can push through and be digging through our place in 3 weeks, so we have no hope of digging foundation as we haven`t secured a builder yet.Now they know about our planning, they are trying to railroad us quickly to get in .......

So you have three weeks to find a builder to start work. He doesn't have to do the entire build, simply the foundations - there are loads of trades out of work so it really shouldn't be that difficult. Get a few mates over and start them yourself if you know anyone handy! The water board will only push things through in three weeks if they know you are starting work so don't have any further contact.