Services
Entry posted by Red Kite
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Services
As the existing bungalow already had services (phone, electricity, gas, water, main drainage) we expected that it should be easy to sort out the services for the new build. Well some were harder than others!
Gas – to demolish we needed to first have the gas meter removed which was really easy. Then we needed the gas disconnected – it wasn’t too tricky but they were not too sure where it was on the verge. They looked carefully at the tarmac patches in the road and decided which one looked like theirs! And dug up the verge – bingo got it first time, and just to check they clamped the pipe and turned on the gas by the (non-existent) meter and nothing came out – really scientific that one. We are debating if we reconnect either of the new houses as we don’t expect to use much energy and the reconnection charge and standing charge, plus new boilers and periodic servicing make it hard to get a payback.
Water – disconnection was simple: our demolition contractor dug down near the meter and pulled out the pipe, cut it and fitted a tap – job done! And a temporary supply into the bargain. Adding a new supply for the extra house looks reasonably painless (apart from the complex forms) and we will get both houses onto 32mm feeds. Fingers crossed.
Phone – well we just cancelled the service and disconnected the overhead back to the pole – probably not squeaky clean but it worked. We have tried to register the site with BT but for some reason they don’t seem to respond. More effort is required on our side, and probably large amounts of money. We will see, but for now we don’t need phone or broadband on site.
Electricity - We have an overhead supply that went to the bungalow gable so before we could demolish it had to go, and based on horror stories we decided to start early. In January we had a surveyor who said we could put up a temporary pole in the back garden and they would run the existing cable to it and down to a temporary meter cabinet. As long as we kept the existing cable length it was going to be simple! We had the quote and after we moved out of the bungalow we (foolishly) asked what sort of pole we needed to install prior to them moving the cable – this was met with ‘you cant do that – we have to install the pole’. So new surveyor and lots of head scratching and working out the best option for the final layout of the two houses they decided they would install a new pole for us (cue an extra £1000) and we duly paid the bill and thought it would be simple! Well after 4 attempts ( a long and boring story) the great pole day arrived and so did 5 vans and lots of electricity men. Lots of tea later they still hadn’t got the JCB and auger. Finally he arrives having driven 20 miles (the previous day he drove at 22mph 105 miles each way to a job so this was local for him). Then a few more calls and the pole arrived – so it was looking good (now seven vehicles on site!). Auger in place and poised to start they suddenly decided they needed a ‘services plan’, and because they didn’t have one they would all have to go away and come back another day! They called their boss and asked him to come out and supervise the job as they had an irate customer, to which he said “I’d rather not”. We were not irate but if throwing the toys out of the pram was what was needed then we would start screaming loudly. Well luck prevailed and no toys were thrown because the previous crew in the last failed attempt did have a ‘services plan’ (though not the right digger) so it was duly emailed and paperwork was dealt with and drilling commenced. From then on work was smooth and efficient and skilful, hole dug, pole in, old cable disconnected, new cable run down the new pole. They had some trainee linespersons who did the cable work and they were great. They even put my post in their hole and then screwed my cabinet to this and ran the cable in and terminated it to their fuse. Next step was a different crew to come and move the meter on another day. This was pretty smooth and they changed the meter to a digital but dumb meter which fitted better in the box than the old clockwork one. Finally our electrician came and put in the meter tails and we had temporary power on site, and a permanent pole for ever more – phew!!! Well actually not over yet because helpful folks on the forum advised on the vat side and it is impossible to claim this back so we are trying to get them to re-issue the invoice without the vat and give is a vat refund directly. They say this is in process but it may yet take a toy throwing session to achieve it! And we also need to switch to a low standing charge tariff for the duration of the build and prepare for the fun of getting two permanent supplies in place – we cant wait!!!!
Main Drainage – this has been a real problem with the site – a main 150mm shared sewer runs down one side of the plot and then diagonally across it. We have had to design the entire layout around this and give a 6m exclusion zone around the route. The alternative is to re-route it and as its pretty deep our pockets would also need to be. So we will leave it where it is and add a new manhole and life should be easy – again fingers crossed. Our SE advised us to have a cctv survey of the existing sewer so we have evidence of the existing state and can’t be blamed for any pre-existing damage.
In conclusion, as everyone says, services are a costly, lengthy and bureaucratic nightmare. Having an already serviced plot should make it easy, but I pity anyone with a Greenfield site as ours was a, still ongoing, nightmare. Advice is plan early and expect it to take ages and cost lots and you wont be far wrong
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