LakesDylan

I'm digging under my foundation walls (350 year old chapel) to install a new 110mm foul water drain. This is the only drain coming from the building. It will then join into the adjacent properties pipework (with legal agreements in place) via an existing inspection chamber, less that 6 from the outside of the chapel wall. It is a straight line from A (the chapel) to B (the inspection chamber). I will put rockers/flexible joints either side of the wall, but was wondering if it was necessary to add an inspection chamber or rodding point? I can easily gain access to the existing inspection chamber and work back if here are any problems. Any advice greatly appreciated.

The existing neighbours with access to the existing system have individual agreements with the landowner in their deeds. There is no common document for all properties. I hope not to update all agreements, just to create my own with the landowner. On top of that I expect to draft some sort of maintenance agreement, which is not currently documented.

Thanks for the info about dispute resolution.

You're right non of it seems unreasonable. I was hoping to minimise solicitors costs, because I am paying for it, but can't avoid paying something. The existing properties connected to the system have agreements in their deeds, so don't expect to have to pay for changes to theirs. They relate to their own individual access rights with where the existing septic tank is situated. Just would like to have a better understanding of what's included before approaching a solictor.

Thanks everybody.

I have verbally agreed to connect my chapel conversion to the neighbours existing septic tank, which is shared with another 2 properties, so long as I pay to upgrade the system to a new, compliant, sewage treatment plant. This is by far the most cost effective way of dealing with the wastewater. But, before progressing the neighbours want the following to be documented... 1. All the neighbours want a formal written agreement for the ongoing maintenance of the system between us and 2. The neighbour with the treatment plant in their garden wants an agreement in their deeds (as there is with the other 2 neighbouring properties) that details the access. Has anybody any examples of these? Thanks in advance.

Good morning everyone. Here's my introduction! I purchased a grade 2 listed, small old Presbyterian chapel 4 years ago. I live in the village where the chapel is, walk past it everyday and can see it from my garden, so thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to own and preserve. I have planning permission to convert it into a 2 bedroom dwelling, which was granted in February 2021, the same month as I took voluntary redundancy from my employer. I hope to do a lot of the "grunt" work myself and have begun by removing the concrete rendering on the inside of the building, but will no doubt need to employ tradesmen to do the complicated works. The most pressing issue to date has been how to incorporate a new waste water treatment plant. The original planning application (which I inherited at the time of purchase) had a new sewage treatment plant in the adjacent farmers field, which whilst agreeable, was not ideal for me or the farmer. So I tried locating the treatment plant in the curtilage of the chapel. But this proved too difficult with a rather full graveyard. Finally, I have verbally agreed to connect to the neighbours existing septic tank, which is shared with another 2 properties, so long as I pay to upgrade the system to a new, compliant, sewage treatment plant. The only outstanding issues are that... 1. All the neighbours want a formal agreement for the ongoing maintenance of the system between us and 2. The neighbour with the treatment plant in their garden wants an agreement in their deeds (as there is with the other 2 neighbouring properties) that details the access. I'll post the specific query in the appropriate forum, but that I'd detail it here as well. I'm sure that there will be many other challenges along the way, but I'm pleased to be making progress, albeit, very slow at the moment. If there's anybody else with experience of converting chapels, I'd be grateful to hear any advice they have.