The Planning Liaison team tell you what you need to know about connecting your development to our sewer and water networks. We provide information on network capacity, points of connection, asset protection, managing rainwater (surface water) and adoption of networks. It is important that you keep us updated as your plans develop to enable us to identify points of connection and complete any network capacity improvements required to support your development.
We aim to advise a point of connection for foul sewerage and water supply within 21 days of receipt of the pre-planning application and all required information. This will be based upon the nearest public sewer or water main of an appropriate size. Other matters will be reviewed depending on the maturity of your development as explained below:
For all developments
You will need to:
- Obtain a free asset map of your site. If Wessex Water assets are present or are in close proximity to your site, you will need to consider protection measures. Please refer to Protection and diversions guidance for more information.
- Begin to consider where you will connect to our network(s).
- Consider the proximity of your development to Wessex Water’s operational sites. If there is a Wessex Water site such as a sewage pumping station or water recycling centre close to your proposals, a stand off distance is required between the Wessex Water site and any proposed habitable dwelling. This may affect your layout. [Link to proximity] Please also refer to Odour and Fly guidance if your site is close to a water recycling centre.
- Be aware of your options for making a connection to our network [Link to NAV, S41, options] / [Link to sewer connection options]
- Consider your surface water strategy at an early stage. We do not accept surface water connections (Rainwater falling onto, and running off, of impermeable areas) into foul sewers. Please refer to Surface Water Policy for further guidance.
Depending on your development’s stage within the planning process, there may be additional points to consider
Where is your development in the planning process?
If you have not yet submitted a planning application, we encourage early engagement and discussion with us so that we can assess your proposals.
This will help you to understand how we can provide water and/or sewerage services to your development and work with you to ensure our networks are protected.
At this stage you need to establish your preferred point(s) of connection to our network. We will complete a desktop review and comment on network capacity.
When planning permission is granted, if we have identified a lack of capacity in our water and/or sewer networks we will review in greater detail.
Where capacity improvements are required, we will work with you to seek timely implementation.
Further guidance can be found here [link to capacity]
If we haven't already commented on your planning application, please contact us with the reference number and we will assess and comment on your proposal and consider how your development may affect our network(s) in more detail.
Where necessary, network modelling will be undertaken upon grant of planning permission. This will establish if network capacity improvement(s) is/are required.
If your application is at the reserved matters stage we will expect to see a finalised drainage strategy including the point of connection(s) to our network.
We also expect to see on the site layout how our existing assets are protected and how relevant easements have been observed. See Protection and diversions.
You can apply online if we have not commented on your development previously or contact us with any subsequent queries
At this stage, points of connection (supply, foul and surface water) should be finalised and agreed with us. You should also be aware of any capacity improvements necessary to support your development and have been provided with an indication by Wessex Water of when these will be implemented.
Finalise how your site will be connected to our network [Link to NAV, S41, options] / [Link to sewer connection options]
You can apply online if we have not commented on your development previously or contact us with any subsequent queries
If planning approval is not required for your development, you may still need to discuss your proposed water and drainage arrangements with us to ensure there is adequate capacity and to avoid any unexpected issues relating to our networks or operational sites.
If you require an increased volume of water to be supplied to your development or need to discharge a larger amount of sewage to our network, we need to know your requirements and proposed flow rates.
Guidance documents
Surface water policy
wwds-dev063p-planning-liaison-surface-water-policy-for-minor-development.pdf - (0.00 bytes)Capacity
wwds-dev060g-planning-liaison-capacity-appraisal.pdf - (0.00 bytes)Odour and fly
wwds-dev062g-planning-liaison-odour-risk-assessment-new-development-proposals.pdf - (0.00 bytes)Protection and diversions
wwds-dev061g-planning-liaison-protection-and-diversion.pdf - (0.00 bytes)Proximity
wwds-dev063g-planning-liaison-site-proximity.pdf - (0.00 bytes)