Kitchen extension renovation

[KiwiPanda]

Hello, this is the first of what I suspect will be many questions, as I feel decidedly clueless about anything to do with building.

Anyway, we are renovating our old (c. 30 years I think) extension with new floor, doors, etc etc. In the process of ripping out what's there, the builders have found two manhole covers - one just outside on the patio area, and one in the middle of the kitchen.

The patio area one is fine, we can work around plan to create brick boiler house shed thing there. The kitchen one though... from what I'd read, you aren't allowed now to build over a manhole. But obviously someone did, a long time ago - it's encased in concrete! So what do we do?

I'd leave it and cover it up again, possibly in a way that means you can gain access if necessary.

Architect here. When it comes to drainage, its important to find out whether the manhole you are talking about is public or private - that will tell you whether you can or cannot build over it. A public drain is ANY drain (be it on public OR private land) that services more than one property. That includes a manhole to drainage from flats, or a manhole that connects multiple flats to the street manhole (often found on terrace properties). If your manhole is only your property, then you can reroute the pipes, put in a new manhole, and cover over the other manhole without bother. Just be sure to provide yourself with an adequate location to rod the pipes in case of a blockage.

Hope that helps.

It does, thank you so much @StudioVarey. That's pretty much what the builders have concluded we should do, so good to have it backed up by you too. It's on our property and we can reroute to just outside in the garden (accessible of course). An unforeseen expense of course but I suppose one has to, err, foresee unforeseen expenses!