Frequently Asked Questions
Developer Services
Q. How do I apply for a new connection?
A.You will need to contact the Developer Services Team for an application form or alternatively this can be downloaded from our web site.
The application form will need to be filled in and sent back to Developer Services with the relevant Administration fee. From here the application will commence its quotation process, which may involve going to different departments depending on the amount of detail required to produce the quote.
Once the quote has been produced and sent back you will need to decide if you want to commence with the connection. If the answer is ‘yes’ the connection fee will need to be paid for and an inspection on the service pipe will be necessary. (You will need to call developer services to advise us that your pipe work is ready for an inspection.)
Once the connection fee has been paid and the pipe work inspection has ‘passed’ the dept will raise a connection sheet, which will be passed to our ‘Planners.’ The ‘Planners’ will schedule the date for the physical connection.
Q. Why do you charge an Administration Fee?
A. The administration fee is the fee required to pay for the cost of the written quotation. This covers all the administration for all the departments involved in producing the quote.
Q. My quotation seems expensive?
A. The minimum standard charge for a short connection is £596.00, on top of this you may get charged Sewer and Water Infrastructure if the property is new and making extra demand onto the public system. Additional costs can be added in cases where Sunday work is involved or if the Highways Authority decides if Traffic signals are required. Additional costs can also involve how far the main is from the service pipe and the type of ground we have to go through to complete the connection.
Q. What is Infrastructure?
A. Infrastructure is a fixed charge made for watch new connection to water mains and sewers. Water/Sewerage infrastructure charges are set by OFWAT and are intended to cover the cost of improving the company’s local infrastructure to take account of new demand placed upon the public system. The charges are detailed in the Charges Scheme each year.
Q. Why is my quotation taking so long?
A. Complex quotations can take sometime to complete, it is likely that the application is being looked at by another dept to confirm details. It should be noted that quotations could take up to 28 days to be completed.
Q. What if I need to make some amendments to my quote?
A. If you need your quote amending due to any on site changes, pipe size changes, more plots to be added, then you will need to confirm this in writing to the Developer Services Team. A second quotation fee will be required in order to amend the application.