We have discovered that the developers of our estate have connected land drains from higher ground to the new surface water systems in the estate. As a result the water authority will not adopt the surface water system and the roads cannot be adopted until that happens. Is it usual to put in drainage this way, because it seems to have opened a huge can of worms!!
2007-01-25 01:55:25 · 8 answers · asked by saliser 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
What colour feathers did the builders have in their hats and to what did they tie their horses I wonder!
2007-01-25 02:39:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The problem is that when the land drains overflow they will fill the surface water systems and cause these to flood the estate. The Surface water drains should only have to deal with the Surface water. As you stated the water Authority will not adopt the drains because of the problem with flooding from the higher level. I would say it's not usual for drains to be put in this way. normally Surface water drains run down towards the main land drains for obvious reasons. Seek legal advice.
2007-01-25 02:05:17 · answer #2 · answered by GoreyAlan Fáilte 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Normally the developer will only get planning permission on condition that he enters into an agreement for the roads and sewers(including surface water sewers) are adopted, to do this he has to enter into a formal agreement with the highway authority and the water authority and normally has to deposit a bond with them to protect both you and the authorities from such messes as this. The highway authority and water authority will have engineers that supervise these works and eventually sign them off as being to the required standard to be adopted. If the developer fails to do the necessary works they can use the bond deposited with them to pay for the works, the bond if the authorities have done their job properly should be sufficient to put anything right, however if there is not sufficient money in it it is possible that the excess could be charged to you and the other residents but we had one recently where we were just a few hundred pounds short and politically it was not worth the hassle of trying to claim it off the residents. I would suggest you chase the authorities like mad to get this sorted as such things can drag on for years and such problems can stop anyone selling their house if they wanted to as it puts buyers off. so to ramble on so long
2007-01-26 10:16:17 · answer #3 · answered by grahamralph2000 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If its a new build house (i.e. less than ten years old) then the builders are legally reponsible to make good and faulty workmanship. Drains comes into this and whilst they may of contracted it out, they are still legally the developers and are 100% responsible. Speak to them.
And whilst yes the council should inspect and approve the plans from drawings, the plans often do not show land gradients etc, so they cannot view them.
2007-01-26 04:33:50 · answer #4 · answered by castrol75 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is typical now a days.The local authority are supposed to inspect the plans before building commences!I suppose they will deny any responsibility as will the builders and any cost will be passed on to yourself and the other residents on your estate.
2007-01-25 02:03:31 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Where are the engineers? The engineer who stamped the design is the one ultimately responsible.
2007-01-25 12:41:00 · answer #6 · answered by daedgewood 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
since it doesn't meet the local building codes, clearly it's not common in your area.
2007-01-25 02:01:44 · answer #7 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's called CONFUSION
2007-01-25 08:14:10 · answer #8 · answered by Siddoo 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋