• After 1 April 2002, Building Regulations applications for new buildings and extensions that involve building over or within 3 metres of a public sewer, must be submitted using the full plans procedure. Building notice applications are not accepted in such situations.
  • Note: Thames Water Utilities (TWU) maintain that any drain, laid before 1st October 1937, serving more than one property is a public sewer.
  • All appropriate applications, those for extensions to existing buildings and new buildings, are checked against the relevant map of sewers provided by the water board. This check is carried out as soon as possible and the applicant or agent advised of the outcome.
  • Where a proposal is likely to be within 3 metres of a sewer shown on the map of sewers, TWU are advised as soon as possible and their observations requested within 10 working days. Even if an application is invalid, for whatever reason, TWU should be informed of the proposed works.
  • Legally, we must allow 15 working days for TWU to respond, before issuing a decision so that their observations or recommendations can be borne in mind in the decision to be issued.
  • Applicants should bear in mind that when the proposed building works are within 3 metres of a sewer, that TWU may impose additional requirements. Therefore, works should not commence until TWU have made clear that they do not object to the proposal.
  • TWU’s observations, if any, will be taken into account in determining an application. A refusal or conditional approval may be issued under the Building Regulations. A copy of any such conditional approval, where a condition is relevant to the sewer, should be sent to TWU.
  • TWU are to be informed by fax if work commences prior to approval.  
  • The power of enforcement of matters relating to public sewers rests with TWU and not the Local Authority. Therefore the enforcement of additional requirements, i.e. above those necessary to satisfy the Building Regulations, is the responsibility of TWU.
  • Although Building Control are obliged to take due regard for TWU’s opinions, the requirements of the Building Regulations, for example for clearing access, must still be satisfied.

Thames Water Utilities contact details:
Thames Water Utilities (Waste Water Connections), 1st Floor,
Rose Kiln Court, Rose Kiln Lane, Reading, Berks. RG2 0HP.
Tel: 0118 964 0499 or 0118 964 2831, Fax: 0118 923 6613.

This information was correct at the time of writing (February 2007).

Contact us

Building Control
Environment and Regeneration
Waltham Forest Council
Sycamore House
Forest Road
London E17 4JF
Tel 020 8496 3000
Email building.control@walthamforest.gov.uk

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