Welsh Water could sink house building hopes

Grant Prior 13 years ago
Share

Construction leaders are calling on new housing minister Mark Prisk to head-off changes from Welsh Water which threaten to bring new development to a “dead stop”.

National Federation of Builders chief executive Julia Evans is calling for urgent intervention as the water company’s plans threaten to jack-up bond prices providing guarantees against defects on sewerage and drainage networks on new sites.

Evans said: “Housing Minister, Mark Prisk and Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, must get together to stop the water industry bringing housebuilding to a dead stop.

“Even at this late stage, they should also try to persuade the Welsh Government to re-think”

From next month the Welsh Government will activate a part of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, under which Welsh Water will impose stricter construction requirements and other funding demands on house builders.

Experts fear the move will send bond prices soaring making cover difficult to find.

Unless developers agree to the new terms – set out in what is called a Section 104 Agreement – it will be illegal for house builders to start on a site even though it has full planning permission.

The federation also fears the changes could be introduced in England.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said:  “The Welsh Government is committed to the development of sewerage and drainage systems which are well maintained, have sufficient capacity to manage demand and do not cause sewer flooding of people’s homes or pollute our environment.

“Following the successful transfer of private sewers to the sewerage undertakers on 1 October 2011, the Welsh Government will be introducing mandatory adoption arrangements for new foul sewers and lateral drains and Welsh Ministers Standards for new gravity foul sewers and lateral drains on 1 October 2012.

” The commencement of Section 42 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 will ensure that the second stage of the transfer of private sewers happens successfully and that customers are protected from the potentially costly burden of the maintenance and repairs of private sewers and lateral drains.

“This has been a Welsh Government commitment since 2009 and it will ensure suitable standards are met for water customers across Wales and avoid further proliferation of private sewers and lateral drains .

“It will also ensure that the sewers adopted by the sewerage undertakers will be of a suitable standard to avoid large costs being passed onto water customers.

” We have worked extensively with home builder representatives, including the NFB , to ensure this policy is fit for purpose.

“We also consulted and engaged widely on the implementation of this policy and asked whether the proposed arrangements were deemed to be effective and if additional transitional arrangements were needed. We have taken on board a range of views from the sector and they have been incorporated in to the final policy . ”

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water said: “Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is changing its sewer adoption process in response to a change in the law.  Welsh Government legislation from 1st October 2012 will mean that new sewers and lateral drains that connect to the public sewerage system are adopted as part of the public sewerage network.

“This will ensure that future liabilities and maintenance obligations rest with Welsh Water, and not with developers or householders with sewer problems. It will remove the cost burden of repairs that they now face.

“Welsh Water is a not-for-profit company without shareholders and we have aimed to implement changes within the new law that are fair to developers and our customers.

“The revised financial guarantee, or bond, more accurately reflects the risks the company and our customers will face, and the new arrangements provide scope for developers to reduce their development costs. In addition, the length of time bonds will be held could reduce from as long as 10 years to as little as two years, depending on circumstances.”

Latest news

Balfour Beatty terminates Danny Sullivan labour deals

Around 500 workers on HS2 will be moved to alternative agencies or be taken on direct
21 hours ago

Trio face prosecution after Hinkley site death

Main contractors and client to face charges over death of site supervisor
22 hours ago

Buyers see recovery in house building sector

But civil and commercial work still in the doldrums
1 day ago

Apprentice saws-off thumb on hotel refurb site

Court hears how digit was reattached and teenager continued training with another firm
1 day ago

Laing O’Rourke tops June contracts league

£919m animal super lab dominates new orders
2 days ago

TSL turnover smashes £500m as profit almost trebles

Data centre and logistics contractor rises high on surging demand
2 days ago

Gleeson Homes chief exec leaves business after restructure

Management revamp after "challenging" year
2 days ago

Green light for 1,600-home Oldham town centre overhaul

Plans for over 1,600 homes across six regeneration sites approved
2 days ago

DSM wins Norwich city centre clearance job

Anglia Square shopping centre clearance for £300m scheme
2 days ago

13-year-old becomes UK’s youngest qualified digger driver

Grandson of Gallagher Group chairman sets industry record
2 days ago

Cubby reborn in £12m Svella-backed takeover

£50m revenue target set as 14 firms combine under new Cubby Group banner
3 days ago

North East NHS trusts plot £3bn health estate overhaul

Market engagement begins for major construction push across four trusts
3 days ago

HG goes green on cranes in £1.2m switch to battery power

Diesel-free crane drive cuts fuel bills by 94%
3 days ago

Developer fined £165,000 for fire safety failings

Firm ignored fire safety orders on apartment job in Preston
3 days ago

Bidding to start for £1.8bn North West framework

Contractors invited to bid for latest Procure Partnerships deal
3 days ago

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
3 days ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
4 days ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
4 days ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
4 days ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
5 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
4 days ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
4 days ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
4 days ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
5 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
5 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
5 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
5 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
5 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
5 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
5 days ago