Driveway planning

[Willy87]

I’ve only dug to a depth of 1 metre when installing new water pipe and was still clay at this depth yeah

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I’ve only dug to a depth of 1 metre when installing new water pipe and was still clay at this depth yeah

OK, I just wondered if you might be able to drill through the clay to provide the essential drainage to below that level.

 

[Old Salt]

I have 2 soakaways the full depth of this digger arm. Helpful neighbours informed the council, the highways agency, the environmental agency and the water board.
Whatever you do make sure its legal.

Mine is and I have the approval of the council, highways agency, environmental agency and water board.

 

[Willy87]

Hi did the council etc respond to the reports from neighbours did they come to check works, I would struggle with the soakaway as regs state it must be 5 metres away from property

 

[^woody^]

I would struggle with the soakaway as regs state it must be 5 metres away from property

Building regulations don't apply to driveways.

But going by previous posts, a soakaway is not needed, and a soakaway won't do anything anyway, so I'm confused why it's still being mentioned.

 

[Willy87]

Thanks woody that’s my thoughts aswell that a soakaway wouldn’t work so trying to work out what other options I have to drain the water

 

[Old Salt]

Hi did the council etc respond to the reports from neighbours did they come to check works, I would struggle with the soakaway as regs state it must be 5 metres away from property

The various agencies came after the initial work was all completed and my “helpful but anonymous neighbour” was just trying all the avenues to moan about the work being undertaken. The agencies were happy with photos showing what had been done and put it down to basically the natural conditions, clay, underground stream, ancient ponds etc.

The grounds work guy was not happy with the amount of water still running off the drive so had already said he would open it up again. Dug the second soak away and altered the run of the catchment gulley which remedied the problem.

My point was that if you do things by the book then you cant be taken to task and take lots of photos so you can show what has been undertaken.

 

[Willy87]

So does anyone know the alternative to a soakaway when soakaway won’t work because of clay and I have no surface water drain on my land to direct the water to only a combined sewer manhole thanks

 

[noseall]

So does anyone know the alternative to a soakaway when soakaway won’t work because of clay and I have no surface water drain on my land to direct the water to only a combined sewer manhole thanks

Pay a levy to have your water company take the surface water away for you - i.e. drain it into the nearest sewer drain.

 

[noseall]

I have 2 soakaways the full depth of this digger arm.

I can't see what good that soakaway is doing? It appears to have failed the percolation test miserably. Looks like you are on clay.

 

[Willy87]

I do pay a charge currently to water company as I have a combined sewer if I go down this route will it require planning permission or am I best to just put a pipe into sewer manhole and say nothing

 

[noseall]

I do pay a charge currently to water company as I have a combined sewer if I go down this route will it require planning permission or am I best to just put a pipe into sewer manhole and say nothing

Planning permission will not be required, though you may have to make a Building Regulations application (drains connection). Have your latest water company bill handy to show the fee payments relating to combined usage.

 

[Willy87]

I was under the impression if you couldn’t drain your driveway to a soakaway then planned by permission would need to be applied for

 

[noseall]

I was under the impression if you couldn’t drain your driveway to a soakaway then planned by permission would need to be applied for

....

Planning permission will not be required, though you may have to make a Building Regulations application (drains connection)

 

[Willy87]

Thanks you don’t happen to know if this is fact thanks