How to get permission to build over a sewer when you're unable to divert it.

A building will be considered commercial if it falls under one of the following use classes:

• Class B: Business that supply people - General industrial, storage and distribution
• Class C: Locations where people sleep - Hotels, residential institutions, secure residential institutions, houses in multiple occupation that are not single dwellings
• Class E: Commercial, business and service - Shops, offices, restaurants, light industrial
• Class F: Learning and non-residential institutions - Schools, galleries, museums, libraries, local community use
• Others: Theatres, cinemas, public houses, fuel stations

Use classes are defined by the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987.

If your building falls under a commercial category, you'll need to apply for permission to build over sewers on the site.

You'll need to apply for commercial agreement if your project includes any of the following types of work:

• sewers with a diameter more than 225mm
• sewers classed as critical
• piling
• significant temporary works
• crane operation
• demolition
• loading from plant and machinery
• deep excavations
• tunnelling
• significant dewatering
  

Our Asset Protection Team deal with planned, significant work near our assets. They will assess your application to build over a sewer.

They will ask for information about the:

• intended use of the property
• potential impact of the works on a Severn Trent asset

This will help use decide if work is needed to protect our network of pipes and other assets.

The Asset Protection Team will decide if you need a commercial agreement to build over a sewer.