Electricity supply by edge of where foundations would be?

[Fi and J]

Hi all 

 

the Housebuilders Bible suggests having mains supply electricity cable running near planned foundations can be a big problem…

 

I don’t completely understand the electricity line map attached but it seems like the electricity supply for the terrace of four existing houses enters the garden my house right where I’d like to build a 5th dwelling (in the garden - effectively elongating the terrace) and runs along the row of existing houses close to the front walls. I’m mid pre-planning application, which is going well. 
 

Please can anyone with more cleverness and experience than me clarify if this is

a) no big problem - leave it to an engineer later 

b) potentially very expensive to manage

c) potentially insurmountable 

 

thank you very much. This self build journey has so many complications!! 
 

thanks 
 

Fi

 

 

[Conor]

You need to do site investigations really, the map won't be accurate. It's a hand drawn map in feet and inches AND metres, and hasn't been accurately georeferenced to the OS map.

 

There's no proposed building / plot on the map so can't comment on your specific proposal.

[Temp]

You can hire Cable Avoidance Tools (CAT) quite reasonably to trace a cable run.

 

https://brandonhirestation.com/cable-avoidance-tool-hire

 

Electric cables can be easier to deal with than sewers.

[Fi and J]

Thank you. I should have posted a pic of the new building outline sorry! A basic outline in orange is on the new photo below. The front of the house is on the right side of the photo running north-south and will follow the line of the existing terrace. 
 

I will hire some CAT tools - that sounds much better than digging a load of holes. 
 

please can you explain what self builders do if power supply cables run very close to where you want to build?  
 

thank you ! 
 

 

[ProDave]

Tell your local DNO you need to do some digging and ask them to come and locate the cable.

 

You will need a new connection anyway for the new house so get a quote from them and have a site meeting and get them to identify the cable location. It should hopefully be a cheap connection if there is capacity in the cable to support another house.

 

If it does need moving you would have to pay the DNO to do that but is should not cost much, especially if you or your builder does all the trench digging.