Communal Soakaway - Developer Notification

Earlyadopter

We moved to a new build in November 2022 S81 postcode. One of the key features the selling agent (Keepmoat) mentioned to us when we were in the purchase process was there would be no surface water charges as the entire estate drains into a communal soakaway. You can't miss it, it is the size of a football field when you enter the estate. Fast forward 14 months and I've just managed to get Severn Water to accept this (in no small part due to other residents complaining) and will issue a refund for charges we have already paid. 

I am curious, surely developers have to notify all interested parties, utilities etc., about communal soakaways as part of the approval process. I'm surprised that Severn Water argued this point - they say they didn't know - and I wonder how many other residents of new developments are paying this charge across the country when they possibly don't have to? 

KR