Building Control decides if you should connect....
Approved Document Part H sets a hierarchy in requirement H3 and H4...
1. Discharge rainwater to the ground via a soakaway or infiltration system (preferred).
2. If that’s not possible, discharge to a watercourse.
3. Only if neither is feasible, discharge to a sewer (surface water first, and combined only as a last resort).
So you may have to show Building Control that soakaways arent possible or don't work on the site if you want to connect
The Water Company decides if you may connect, eg have a legal right of connection.
Edit: I checked Southern Water as I know they have combined sewers and their Web site says.. "We have no legal powers to prevent new connections from being made to existing combined sewers." although that's not quite what you asked...
See the FAQ "What is a combined sewer"
https://www.southernwater.co.uk/faqs/