Septic tank field drain

Doodle169

Long story but basic question is we have a septic tank that drains into a field. This setup has existed for over 30 years. Now a large housebuilder is building in that field. Our Council tells us that this is nothing to do with them and we need to take up the issue with the housebuilder as it’s a matter between landowners. We dont know if this new house building will affect us and the large builder is not answering emails either. Should the Council have required the builders to take into account our legacy drainage system? Or at least talk to us about what our options are? They say it’s not their problem. 

MX5huggy

Is this septic tank just yours? Not shared. The tank is located on your land? But the drainage field is located on someone else’s land? 

Legal agreement do you have covering this? Anything in the deeds of the property?

The council are correct they just grant planning permission they don’t even need to check the person applying owns the land never mind checking if anyone is using the land in the way you are. 

Get ready to sort drainage inside your boundary. 

Doodle169

It’s a shared tank between us and our neighbour. There’s no paperwork other than servitude by use over 20 years? The field has been used for drainage for 100 years for my neighbours house and was updated in the 1980s when our house was built in the neighbours back garden. The septic tank is in my garden as is the drain, however we think it drains into the field. 

Doodle169

In fact yes it does drain into the field as my neighbour was there when our house was built but we weren’t 

tonyh66

should be something in the deeds, and your probably going to need a solicitor by the sounds of it.

Doodle169

Nothing in nothing in the deeds of either house.