Can I move percolation area?

caprilicious

Hi,

Not sure if I'm in the correct forum, apologies if I'm not!

I want to look into the possibility of seeking planning permission on a 1/2 acre part of our garden.
The layout is as follows, house on far left of site to front with percolation area for sewerage system to far right of site.
In order to split the site, we would need to set a boundary up the middle of the site, and put a new percolation are in for our existing sewerage system.
Is this possible or are they the type of thing that can not be moved?

I'm guessing I would need to have a percolation test done on alternative parts of the site in order to see if there is another suitable area for the percolation area.

The only other factor that may or may not be an issue is that the site slopes from high at the rear to low at the front.
I doubt a new percolation area could be put at the front (at roadside) so I'm guessing it would need to be located at the top of the site.
Is it possible to locate a percolation area on a higher part of the site, but dug right down so it is either level with or below level with the existing sewerage unit?

Finally, would I need planning permission to move the percolation area? Or just a test to confirm suitability on another part of the site?
If we did need planning, could it be included on the planning application for the other part of the site?
(The intention being to seek planning with the view to selling the site with PP all going well)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, if I've left out any info. required please let me know

rayjdav

Yes, they can be moved. More hassle due to invert levels etc, but can be done..
Yes, Percolation test would need to be done on new proposed location for your site and also for new site percolation area.
If the area is available to the front of the house and all seperation distances are adhered to, then there is no reason it cannot be put to the front of the house.
If it had to go to the top of the site, be it sloping, then you could pump it up?? Not ideal from your point of view, but it can be done.
Yes, you do need planning to relocate the existing system.
Did something similar in South Tipp and the LA insisted that the 2 aspects, ie existing relocation and new site, be dealt with under seperate covers. Just keeps the paper trail easier for all concerned, and also, if one was refused permission, it could affect the other aspect of the proposal.

Point to consider is that if you have an existing septic tank and looking to do any works to it that require permission, with the new EPA site standards, there is a good chance that you will now have to install a treatment system, as LA's dont like giving permission for standard Septic Tanks anymore.

caprilicious

Thanks a mill for the reply Rayjdav, wow I wasn't expecting such a detailed response that's brilliant!

I have a friend that works in the council in another district, I'm hoping to meet with him and chat with him to see if any of my idea is feasible at all, but you've given me a bit more hope that it might just be a runner. (before forking out a few hundred/thousand to an architect/council)

I'm pretty sure there's a pump in the current system & it was only put in in the past few years, I'm nearly sure its a biocycle system that we have, so hopefully that'll make life a bit easier.

Thanks again :cool:

archtech

Its also no harm to check, if the relevant local authority have a minimum size on the size of a site they will permit planning permission on, before you go down the road of submitting a planning application on. I know in South Tipp its 0.2 ha, but it increases as the house size increases.

A pre-planning meeting would be very worthwhile for you at this stage, to get some feed back to see if making an application is worth considering.

mickdw

I would locate the original planning for the existing house & tank. Depending on when it was built, it might have been shown alot nearer the house that it has actually ended up on site.

caprilicious

Thanks a mill for the advice folks, I really appreciate it

archtech - excellent advice, I didn't even realise it was possible to have a pre planning meeting, I thought it was a case of getting plans drawn up, submitting them and hoping for the best

Mickdw - brilliant advice, I do have the original plans on a PDF somewhere, I must dig them out and see what it is on the plans, as I know some minor details of the house interior aren't exactly as per the planning was, so the perc area might be the same

Thanks all for the advice, to be honest I'll be seriously stretching the pennies as it is to try do this and no doubt will still end up with it on the market a year or two if it sells at all, but its great to know there are ways and means to do it and without necessarily having to break the bank

I did get a quote from an architect of €2k to come out and look at the place, I think maybe to percolation test, draw up generic house plans & submit them.
I have no idea if this is a good or bad price, sounds reasonable enough for what I imagine is a fair bit of work?