Building over sewer agreement

[Littlepicklehead]

I feel like crying, it seems to be one thing After another trying to get our extension sorted.

So, we lost our builder on Monday. I had already made the building control application so this had been ticking along, meanwhile I've been getting more building quotes and some could be ready to start in a few weeks, hooray!

Today I've received a letter from Thames water saying it looks like we are planning to build within 3 metres of a public sewer and so need to apply for a building over agreement. Realistically this will take a couple of months to sort out.

I need to get drawings of the drains and plans but I'm really confused how to do this, does anyone have any experience? Obviously we are without a builder atm. Would it be the architect? How do we work out where e drains actually to? The manhole is in the side return and is 2.8m from the rear of the building where the extension will start (Sod's law).

Need to sort this ASAP but I'm stuck and our architect isn't picking up.

If anyone else has had to do this can you offer any advice on what I do next?

Also, why on earth have none of the builders who quoted, our architect of the eningeers picked up on this at all? It would have been much easier if we had known about this from the start instead of it delaying everything. Is it unusual?

we had to apply too, at the last minute, but it hasn't stopped building work starting. although we did have our builder to liase with Thames water, provide the drawings and generally sort it out. we just had to pay over £300! took about a week. contact your architect to see If they could help?

the extra work involved a lintel over the sewer pipes
if you don't yet have a builder then there's no real rush

hope you get it sorted!

oh and unless the builder or architect lifted up the manhole they wouldn't really have known. I kept on about it to my builder as my dad, an architect, had spotted it years ago. the builders wouldn't believe me until I got them to open it up and run some taps, including my neighbours

Thanks sacbina, that's reassuring. I managed to speak to my architect and she can do the drawings which is a relief.

I'm confused about the pipes though - I have had builders lift up the manhole so they were well aware of the pipes. And I have no idea how we would know if they pass under where the extension will be as the drain is on the side return and the pipe runs front to back (so looks like it would be parallel to the extension). How on earth would they know if it bends round the back? Seems unlikely?

Thames water said it takes 21 once they have received the application (and their money!) and we shouldn't start work until we have the agreement, but my architect seemed to think we could just start esp if the popes are not actually under the build? So confusing...

21 days that should read

we have already started, without official approval, but with a verbal agreement from TW. by the time you find a builder should be fine. when mine were sorting it out it was fairly straightforward in what had to be done. just had to pay for the privilege !

It took us under a week to sort out too. I wouldn't fret too much, didn't involve any extra building costs either.

We had a horrendous time getting our BOSA. It probably took 4 months and cost around 700 pounds. Genuinely iincompetent muppets at Welsh Water. I cried on several occasions.

Sounds like TW will be a much better experience, all the best.