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Arrange your service connections early on
We are in the process of self-building a bungalow. I would like to advise my fellow readers to make contact with utility companies as soon as planning consent has been given. This part of a project can be a drawn out process, so in my experience it’s best to start discussions straight away, even if you’re still awaiting tenders from suitable contractors. This will help to ensure building works are not held back by a provider’s slow response. Our plot is around 65m from the road, so the total cost for connecting water, gas and electricity came to £12,000. But don’t expect different providers to use the same trench – they rarely coordinate work. Ken Seager, via email