Sepa CAR license

[Amateur bob]

I applied for a sepa license 3 weeks ago to show my waste water from sewage treatment plant etc was going into a field drain and then down to a burn, ive heard nothing back yet and the builder is wanting to get started the foundations next month

 

what is the usual timescale for this license and would i get away with starting the founds as long as i dont connect anything up to a drain?

thanks

[Dunc]

Our SEPA application took about 5 weeks (late 2023). Our neighbour's seems to have taken several months, submitted late 2024.

Assuming you have an approved building warrant I don't see why you can't get started on the founds, but how do you have approval without the CAR?

[Amateur bob]

6 minutes ago, Dunc said:

Our SEPA application took about 5 weeks (late 2023). Our neighbour's seems to have taken several months, submitted late 2024.

Assuming you have an approved building warrant I don't see why you can't get started on the founds, but how do you have approval without the CAR?

Several months? Is it a complex application? Thats concerning

 

Yes i do have an approved building warrant and have a letter which states this, im not sure but i was looking through the planning conditions and this was one of them and spoke to the guy that handled the building warrant and he said get an engineer to apply for a sepa license for u which ive now done and paid sepa 

Edited January 30 by Amateur bob

[ProDave]

It is a long time now but we had to get the licence before BC would issue our building warrant.  I don't remember it taking weeks, once SEPA had verbally agreed to allow is to discharge to the burn, I am sure it only took days.

[Amateur bob]

27 minutes ago, ProDave said:

It is a long time now but we had to get the licence before BC would issue our building warrant.  I don't remember it taking weeks, once SEPA had verbally agreed to allow is to discharge to the burn, I am sure it only took days.

Interesting that ive bn issued the building warrant without it also i see with the building warrant application there is a pic showing where it discharges into the burn, although sepa have recentky asked the pic to be altered to show its a field drain and not a dry burn that runs down into the main burn, do u think i should just push on with founds but not connect up any drains yet?

[Dunc]

If you have the warrant you're OK to start digging (assume you've submitted the notification of start of works form).

 

I suspect BC has missed the SEPA thing and probably should have asked for it? It was raised as speific question on our BC submission.

The risk is that if SEPA refuse the CAR how do you provide drainage for the house? I feel your pain - we've had similar issues with not having cast iron guarantees on all of the utilities but wanting to move ahead...it's down to your comfort level with risk and what the backup plan might be.

 

I can't really comment on my neighbour's application, other than knowing roughly when they applied and when they got the (positive) response.

[Amateur bob]

30 minutes ago, Dunc said:

If you have the warrant you're OK to start digging (assume you've submitted the notification of start of works form).

 

I suspect BC has missed the SEPA thing and probably should have asked for it? It was raised as speific question on our BC submission.

The risk is that if SEPA refuse the CAR how do you provide drainage for the house? I feel your pain - we've had similar issues with not having cast iron guarantees on all of the utilities but wanting to move ahead...it's down to your comfort level with risk and what the backup plan might be.

 

I can't really comment on my neighbour's application, other than knowing roughly when they applied and when they got the (positive) response.

Yes u have the warrant but i have not submitted the notification for start of works yet, i read somewhere ive to notify building control 24hrs before starting the founds so they can arrange someone to inspect the trenches?

 

The sepa license is a planning condition not a building warrant condition so will the building control check up on this license? I dont really see the issue with it going into a field drain and down to the burn i cant think of any reason they wouldnt allow this? Cheers

[Dunc]

You must notify the start of the works. https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-forms/ - FORM J is what you want,

Or you can do it on the eDevelopment portal https://www.edevelopment.scot/eDevelopmentClient/StaticFiles/eDevelopment-eBStds_Form_Help_Guides-Notice_Regarding_Start_of_Works.pdf

 

Your warrant will have come with a check-list of stages that the BC surveyor wishes to inspect (CONSTRUCTION COMPLIANCE AND NOTIFICATION PLAN). It tells you how much notice you need to give. Mine are all 7 days notice prior to each inspection stage: "Advise verifier when foundation trenches have been  excavated and ready for inspection, prior to the concrete being poured. Please give 7 days notice."

 

sorry, no further idea on the SEPA stuff. Good luck!

[Amateur bob]

26 minutes ago, Dunc said:

You must notify the start of the works. https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-forms/ - FORM J is what you want,

Or you can do it on the eDevelopment portal https://www.edevelopment.scot/eDevelopmentClient/StaticFiles/eDevelopment-eBStds_Form_Help_Guides-Notice_Regarding_Start_of_Works.pdf

 

Your warrant will have come with a check-list of stages that the BC surveyor wishes to inspect (CONSTRUCTION COMPLIANCE AND NOTIFICATION PLAN). It tells you how much notice you need to give. Mine are all 7 days notice prior to each inspection stage: "Advise verifier when foundation trenches have been  excavated and ready for inspection, prior to the concrete being poured. Please give 7 days notice."

 

sorry, no further idea on the SEPA stuff. Good luck!

yes ive had a look at the building warrant checklist it says 7 days too, ive got all of the planning conditions sorted out now except the one that says not to start the build until a sepa car license has been optained

 

how much weight do these planning conditions carry? surely if its at least being processed by sepa when you start then a start could be made to founds itll be a while before any treatment plants are installed etc?

[Amateur bob]

....

[Dunc]

 

On 30/01/2025 at 16:54, Amateur bob said:

yes ive had a look at the building warrant checklist it says 7 days too, ive got all of the planning conditions sorted out now except the one that says not to start the build until a sepa car license has been optained

 

how much weight do these planning conditions carry? surely if its at least being processed by sepa when you start then a start could be made to founds itll be a while before any treatment plants are installed etc?

I think you've answered your own question! Maybe try speaking with your planning officer?

[Amateur bob]

15 hours ago, Dunc said:

 

I think you've answered your own question! Maybe try speaking with your planning officer?

ok might have a word then, do u think theyd allow me to start?