A selection of homes and housing sites we have worked on across England, from single self-builds to ten-home developments. Locations are kept general and figures are as reported at the time.
An all-electric home with an air source heat pump and car chargers, and a water main on the far side of a busy road.
What we did
Checked the load and whether single or three-phase was needed
Submitted the water and electricity applications and registered the plot with Openreach
Obtained the electricity offer within a week of applying
Worked through the water company's requirement for a full road closure
ResultNo network reinforcement needed despite the heat pump and chargers. The road closure needed 13 weeks' notice, flagged early so it could go into the build programme.
Connections managedBedworth, Warwickshire · 2022
Two new homes on a main road
Water
Gas
Electricity
Sewer
The water main ran under the main road, so connecting meant a road excavation, traffic management and a likely three-month wait set by the council.
What we did
Reported on every utility with the asset plans
Obtained gas quotations for both plots
Secured Section 106 sewer connection approvals for both homes
Supplied the proof of ownership the electricity network asked for
ResultGas quotes and both sewer approvals were in place about a week after the site report, with the road works timing known up front.
Connections managedIbstock, Leicestershire · 2021
New home with a cable across the site
Water
Gas
Electricity
Sewer
A high-voltage cable appeared to cross a corner of the plot, the gas main was medium pressure and the nearest sewer was in a neighbour's land.
What we did
Estimated each connection: water about £3,400, gas about £960, electricity about £2,600
Made the water, gas and electricity applications
Showed the client where the cable ran on the network plans
Met the client and builder on site to plan around it
ResultThe cable was flagged before building started, with the option of siting the home to avoid a costly diversion.
Connections managedSouth-east London · 2026
One-bed home behind an existing house
Water
Sewer
Electricity
Gas
The client already had a water quote of £10,300 from an independent contractor, and no public sewer could be reached easily from the plot.
What we did
Reviewed the existing quotes against the water company's network plans
Showed a direct water company connection should be possible for less
Recommended connecting the drainage through a neighbour's existing drain
Arranged a site meeting to take it forward
ResultA cheaper water route and a practical sewer solution, instead of a long and expensive new drain.
Site reportHertfordshire · 2026
Six new homes up a long access road
Water
Gas
Electricity
The nearest water main was about 70 metres from the homes, along a shared access road.
What we did
Obtained the plans for every utility
Compared a new water main with individual service pipes
Flagged a trunk gas main near the site for safe digging
ResultA water main extension was estimated at around £92,000, against around £26,000 for six individual service pipes.
Site reportNuneaton, Warwickshire · 2024
Ten new homes on a former commercial site
Water
Gas
Electricity
Sewer
A larger site needing a new water main along the new access road, with an old gas main serving the existing building.
What we did
Estimated a new main plus ten service connections at about £32,500
Checked whether the existing on-site gas main had capacity
Set out the mains design drawings the operators would need
ResultA clear budget and a list of the designs and applications needed before work could start.
Site reportKidderminster, Worcestershire · 2026
Eight homes on a former ambulance station
Water
Electricity
Sewer
A brownfield site where the water company might insist on a new main, and an existing cable that might not cope with eight new homes.
What we did
Found an existing water connection to re-use for building water and one plot
Estimated seven new water connections at about £15,300
Flagged possible reinforcement on the existing cable
ResultIndividual pipes were expected to cost less than a new main, and the reinforcement risk was known before the layout was fixed.
Site reportSharnford, Leicestershire · 2025
Four bungalows on two separate plots
Water
Electricity
Broadband
Two pairs of homes on plots some distance apart, which the network operators would treat as two separate sites.
What we did
Reported on both plots with their own plans and estimates
Estimated two water connections at about £6,400 per plot
Flagged reinforcement risk if every home had heat pumps and car chargers
Advised on gigabit broadband for Building Control
ResultThe developer could phase the work and drop gas entirely by going all-electric.
Site reportRural Warwickshire · 2026
Three-phase for a heat pump
Electricity
The owner wanted an air source heat pump and was not sure the existing single-phase supply would cope.
What we did
Confirmed a three-phase upgrade would be needed
Flagged likely reinforcement because of the long rural cable run
Listed the new meter and meter box the upgrade would need
ResultThe owner knew the real cost of the heat pump project before ordering it.
What these have in common
The problems were found early
Road closures, cables across a plot, sewers in a neighbour's garden, a main 70 metres away. None of these are unusual. What made the difference on each site was knowing about them before the layout was fixed, the land was bought or the build started.
That is what our site report is for, and why we start every set of applications with it.
Have a site like these?
Send us the location plan and what you want to build. We will tell you what the site will need and quote for handling it.