Building over sewers

Building over or close to public sewers – new buildings and extensions

Do I need your permission to build on my property?

We are responsible for public sewers within our area and many public sewers which cross private land. We have to make sure that development is not carried out that could damage a public sewer, cause risk of flooding or restrict our access for maintenance.

Wherever possible we prefer to avoid the need to build over or close to a sewer by repositioning the proposed development or diverting the sewer. "Close to" is normally defined as being within three metres of the sewer.

However, there are some cases where the risk to the public sewer is small and where diversion is not possible, that we can allow building over or close to a sewer.

Building close to or over a public sewer without getting our formal approval is illegal and it may also jeopardise the future sale of your property.

How do I know if I am building close to or over a public sewer? 

If you are unsure whether your building works affect a public sewer you can find out by calling the relevant office number below.

Please note, these numbers are not for any other customer enquiries.  Our customers should visit the Help and contacts section for a list of relevant contact numbers.