Getting services on site

Connecting your home to utilities such as electricity and water is often time-consuming and, depending on the site, can be expensive. Mike Hardwick explains what you need to know

Most self-builders look to have their phone lines run in trenches, but in some circumstances you may need to tap into a telegraph pole

One aspect common to every self-build project is the need to connect your new home to essential services. This will include water, foul drainage, electricity and telephone/ broadband, as well as utilities such as gas and cable if they are available.

Most of the time, the default option is to connect to the established grid for each commodity. But if certain services are not readily available or impracticable to use, an off-mains solution may be required. This month, I’m looking at how to get your utilities on site and how to decide on the best route for your project.

An overview

The cost of servicing a site is one of those areas that’s notoriously difficult to estimate. If you’re knocking down an existing house and rebuilding in pretty much the same location, you might pay just a few hundred pounds. But on a virgin plot in the middle of nowhere, the fees can be substantial. On top of that, you can’t assume that just because there’s a source of supply nearby, it will always be simple to connect to it. On some remote sites, there may be hidden costs involved, for instance in arranging the necessary easements and/or wayleaves to gain access to utilities across someone else’s property.