Public Sewer and Manhole Issue

RayOfLight_3

We are in the process of buying a mid-terrace property. The local water and drainage searches have advised that there is a "public sewer running within the boundary of the property". This is located 1.5m from the rear wall in the back garden. There is also a manhole cover located at this point.

Our concern is that should we wish to extend the property to the rear in the future, then what would be the implications, both financial and effort-wise, to get approval?

Thames Water cover our area and they won't allow a building to be constructed over a manhole. So we would have to either move the manhole or divert the sewer.

Does anyone have any ideas on costs of this? We are hoping to get this clarified before we exchange contracts!

Thanks

Nikki

No idea of the cost of this but it is likely to be very expensive. We had to pay Thames Water £620 to get permission to build our side extension as it is less than 1.5m away from a storm drain in our front garden. The charges vary depending on the size of the pipe - ours was the mid priced one! I would ring them and ask them.