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We're in the process of buying a new home. The house (and the one next door) were built in the late 60's/early 70's and it seems (from the deeds) originally had a cess pool before they were connected to mains sewerage. The plan on the deeds notes the location and that it was/is 10ft x 10ft x 6ft6in. Obviously, we want to satisfy ourselves as to its condition, mainly from a liability point of view. We're thinking that: We need to check that it was properly decommissioned by filling it with sand and/or gravel to prevent any collapse If not, we also need to check that it's empty Back-of-an-envelope calculations suggest it might need 2.5 tonnes of gravel to fill it, at a cost of around £2,500 (plus emptying if needed). Clearly something we'd want to be dealt with or accounted for in the price. Do you think these concerns are reasonable? Anything else we should be wary of?

Hi All, I have read a lot of the older posts on BH regarding these, and wondered if anyone had any recommendations. I had planned to put my new build onto Mains sewer, and for those that have read my other posts ..the plan was to channel through parents land to get to the closest access....moving them from an old brick cesspit too Sadly, the lateral that should have been there ..isn't and after spending a few hundred and digging up loads of their garden it appears "anecdotal" tales of the mythical ...spur to all properties ..is just that ...a distant race memory from the 1970's What led us to believe that there MAY be a lateral or spur there is the neighbours connected several years ago ...but this is where a can of worms well and TRULY opened ...apparently that connection is not "legal" according to the water board and no work or application was filed and that i cannot connect to that anyway as it breached this rule and that and the other ...they will now be contacting the homeowner as they have never received a penny in sewer charges .....OOOPS! ..Well how was I to know? (sigh) So now the alternative is for us to "core drill" at 2.7m deep at Main sewer which is about 20m away across a path, green verge and yes ...a road. I have had a few quotes and to be honest ...After everything is done ...I doubt i will have much change left from £15k-£17k ...Which is a killer for us. So I am back to thinking about an alternative ....We have a decent back garden (or will have) and i suppose the front is possible also .. We do KNOW about the older brick cesspits ....and to be honest ..we were not impressed ...emptying at least twice a year and then having to rod it several times also and being stood up to the knees in well ...PIT & SHISS ....Not i deal ..well of course this pit is 40 years old ... I am hoping there is a modern equivalent that doesnt smell in summer and that needs minimal maintenance ...OH, and keep the council happy. Easy?

Good Afternoon All, As usual I am looking for a bit of advice. I am in the process of submitting full planning and have already had a "favourable" pre-app assessment/consultaion We are building a small house on some land we have acquired from our parents. We are in the process of also submitting a right of access to the road (which seems also to be going well..fingers crossed). Our main issue is SERVICES ...the problem we have is that the recent development "across the road" is unadopted and as far as we are able to ascertain we cannot get easily connected with anything ....further to that if we stay on the same side of the road ..its 100m at LEAST to the nearest curent point for only SOME services. We have consulted with Gas and Electric and Also Freshwater ..and they have advised us the easiest way could be to connect "through" our families property...(which they have no issue) and create a "wayleave?" into the deeds. So now we get to wastewater ....(and here it gets tricky) Our Parents are on a Cesspit ..have been for 30 years and SOME of the adjoining properties still are (as it is an old village) ..there is mains sewage now on their road ....but i suppose a few have thought if it ain't broke ....etc etc. So we stated off looking at various cesspits, treatments etc etc for our new house ...as we didnt fancy the idea of waste pipes struggling to shift (god knows what) 50 metres... I have just had a VERY interesting conversation with a company ...so I am looking for your guys learned knowledge. He has suggested a "pumping station" ..I have never come across them ?! I mean we are digging a services trench anyway for the rest of the services ....and we are also thinking that our parents sewage is also on that side of the house. so what do you think ...Pumping Station OK ...for building regs etc ? would it be simple to "connect up" or at the same time channel our parents waste to the mains sewage ? I plan on doing most of the donkey work myself ..any advice chaps? your help is as always appreciated I attach the pump that was recommended on PDF and also an image of our area Red = Our Land where we hope to Build Blue = Our Parents Land Green = the proposed path of other services FEKA_VS brochure.pdf