What is a pre-planning enquiry?
A pre‑planning enquiry is optional, but it can be helpful if you’re planning a larger development, especially 10 or more properties. It gives you an early view of whether there’s enough capacity in our water and wastewater network to serve your development. It also highlights any potential issues before you submit a planning application. It’s not an approval or refusal of works and shouldn’t be used as a basis for design.
A pre‑planning enquiry can help you:
- check if there’s capacity near your site
- understand possible connection points
- identify any existing pipes or assets crossing the site
You usually won’t need to apply if:
- you’ve already submitted a planning application, and we have already been involved
- your development is fewer than 10 properties - unless your local planning authority asks for a pre-planning enquiry.
For wastewater‑only connections, you may not need a pre‑planning enquiry where:
- there are no additional flows (for example, replacing existing properties)
- the development is 10 properties or less, unless requested by the local planning authority.
We don’t accept applications to discharge surface water into our foul sewer network, so surface water drainage will need to be planned separately.
- The cost of your pre-planning enquiry will depend on the size of your development. Separate charges are applicable for water and wastewater enquiries. These are detailed in our Connection Charging Arrangements.
- The pre-planning enquiry report is confidential and for your use only. You can share it with others only with our written permission, and anyone you share it with can’t pass it on without our consent.
- We charge for repeat pre-planning enquiries. If you change the proposed flow rate or point of connection, you’ll need to submit a new pre‑planning enquiry.
