One of the more commonly asked questions before installing a sewage treatment plant is: ‘Do I need planning permission?’.
The short answer is: ‘It depends’ – but the better answer is more nuanced and detailed.
Here’s what you need to know about planning, ahead of getting a new sewage treatment plant on your property.
Location matters
Often, the most straightforward way to find out what planning rules (if any) apply to you, is via your local council.
The best first step is to contact your local planning authority and provide the required information about the specifics of your property.
As a rule of thumb though, you may well require planning permission if:
- You’re installing a sewage treatment plant as part of a new build or major renovation project
- The installation could affect your neighbours in some way
- Your installation is close to a protected water source, conservation area or other sensitive location
Whereas if you’re looking to simply replace or upgrade an existing system in the same place, planning permission may not be necessary.
But don’t leave it to chance, check on the requirements of your local authority to be safe and save yourself any potential further financial outlay.
Are there any other legal requirements?
Even if you don’t need planning permission, you’ll still need to ensure you comply with other legislation and rules.
These may well include:
- Permits from the Environment Agency (depending if your property is in a groundwater source protection zone or similar)
- Building regulations approval
- General Binding Rules
Does it matter if my sewage treatment plant is already installed?
Another ‘it depends’ here – if your system was installed before 1 January 2015 (i.e. before the General Binding Rules), then different rules may apply.
But you should still follow the steps above, beginning with your local authority for guidance in the first instance.
And if you have further questions, or are still uncertain about which permissions and laws you need to follow, speak to an expert.
An experienced professional should be able to provide helpful, no-obligation advice to ensure you know what your next steps should be.
What do I do next?
If you’re a little clearer on whether you need planning permission for your sewage treatment plant, Proseptic can help you progress your project.
We can handle anything from initial site surveys to full compliance with local authorities and regulations.
To speak to a member of our helpful team about your requirements please get in touch today.