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Utility cable searches before knocking down and rebuilding


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Hi,


Sorry for what is likely a stupid question from a self-build newbie.

 

We are hoping to buy a bungalow which has planning permission to knock down and rebuild a two storey house on it. 

 

I have heard a horror story about someone who was looking to do an extension but found a massive cable when they started the groundworks which ended up costing tens of thousand of pounds to set right.

 

Is it worth doing specific searches for utility cables on the land before completing a purchase to check this? If so what searches would you do (and how?). I have asked my conveyancer who said it is a very specific request and her search provider won't be able to held. I did manage to find a great site linesearchbeforeyoudig.com which gave us free maps from Southern Gas and UK Power Networks, so we know gas and electricity are ok, but are there others you would search for (e.g. BT cables?) - if so not sure how?

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Unlikely to have large fibre or network cables through a garden without it being pretty clear where they are. Is it a built up area ..?

 

Your conveyancer should pick up any water or sewage pipes but ask explicitly for the maps. 

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2 hours ago, SeanCrowley said:

Hi,


Sorry for what is likely a stupid question from a self-build newbie.

 

We are hoping to buy a bungalow which has planning permission to knock down and rebuild a two storey house on it. 

 

I have heard a horror story about someone who was looking to do an extension but found a massive cable when they started the groundworks which ended up costing tens of thousand of pounds to set right.

 

Is it worth doing specific searches for utility cables on the land before completing a purchase to check this? If so what searches would you do (and how?). I have asked my conveyancer who said it is a very specific request and her search provider won't be able to held. I did manage to find a great site linesearchbeforeyoudig.com which gave us free maps from Southern Gas and UK Power Networks, so we know gas and electricity are ok, but are there others you would search for (e.g. BT cables?) - if so not sure how?

If you register with plantequest 

and Cadent They will send you detailed plans of Gas and electricity 

similar to below 

15A95B2F-05F1-474F-8DC1-33D6B849402A.png

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9 hours ago, PeterW said:

Unlikely to have large fibre or network cables through a garden without it being pretty clear where they are. Is it a built up area ..?

 

Your conveyancer should pick up any water or sewage pipes but ask explicitly for the maps. 

Thanks so much that's what I suspected so didn't think bt or cable network search should be really necessary. Thanks! 

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