What we do

We work with you to develop a feasible water and drainage solution.

The Planning and Capacity team is here to provide support and guidance as your development progresses through the planning process, this is done via our pre-planning enquiry service on InFlow.

We also provide consultation responses to Local Planning Authorities in relation to planning applications.

Where you are submitting a pre-planning for trade effluent purposes, please complete the Trade Effluent Form to be submitted with your pre-planning InFlow application. Trade effluent flows are defined as any effluent that is produced from a process or activity undertaken at premises that are used to carry out a trade or industry. For more details, please take a look at our trade effluent drop down below.

If you require any further information we can be contacted on 03450 263 912 or by email: planningliaison@anglianwater.co.uk

What to do before you apply for Surface Water

Surface water risk management guidance for new and re-developed growth sites.
Please read our guide, prior to submitting a pre-planning enquiry.

What information is required when submitting a pre-planning enquiry?

As a minimum we require a breakdown of what the development will entail (e.g. number of dwellings, commercial floorspace in square metres) and for the site polygon to be accurately drawn in your application on InFlow.

To tailor our responses towards your specific requirements, we welcome any additional information you can provide; for example, topography assessments, preferred connection points etc.

If your pre-planning enquiry proposes to discharge trade effluent you will also need to complete and include this form as part of your submission.

How do I submit a pre-planning enquiry?

All applications are made via InFlow, our online portal at https://inflow.anglianwater.co.uk

If you need support in completing your application, then please call us on phone number 03450 263 912 and we will be able to talk you through the application or screen share via Microsoft Teams.

For information on our pre-planning charges, please see our Developer Charging Arrangements.

What is a pre-planning enquiry?

A pre-planning enquiry provides you with a report that can be used to support your planning application. We will undertake a desktop analysis to assess the water and/or drainage needs (foul and surface water) of your site. Discussing your site with us as early as possible provides significantly more opportunity to ensure a timely, cost effective and integrated approach to your development needs.

We will provide you with a report within 21 days* containing:

Point of connection asset maps, showing your connection points, with alternatives provided if not viable.
Potential upgrades required to our network.
Helpful information about next steps, applying for connections.
If more detailed investigations are required, a member of the team will be in contact to discuss.

*for more complex assessments, this time may be longer.

Pre-design strategic discussion/assessment

In addition to a standard pre-planning enquiry, this stage is designed to capture the early engagement for the design of a site to enable the proposals for maintaining a sewerage system for its lifetime to be considered and discussed. The earlier these discussions the better, and an assessment can be requested at any point before the S104 application is submitted. It also allows the developer to confirm the future owner and maintainer of the sewerage system “at the outset” to use as part of their planning application.

Vacuum Sewer

Within our region we have a small number of areas supplied by a Vacuum Sewer. Please check your postcode here to see if this applies to your application.

If you do need to connect to a Vacuum Sewer please take a look at our helpful guide.

Should you need further information or need some help, call us on 03450 263 912 or email on: planningliason@anglianwater.co.uk

How do I obtain a plan showing where your assets are located?

Asset plans can be purchased from www.digdat.co.uk

There is an Anglian Water sewer/manhole in my land where I was planning to build, what do I do?

If you are extending your property and believe that there is a sewer or manhole owned by Anglian Water within the footprint of the extension or there is a public sewer that will need to be re-laid to accommodate the building, then you may need Anglian Water’s agreement before building work starts.

If there is only one property connected to the manhole or pipe, or the pipe is 150mm in diameter or smaller and less than 3m deep in the ground, then you do not need to worry.
We offer a consultation service where we will assess your proposals and advise if you need to enter into an agreement with us. There is a charge for the application, details can be found on our charges page and you will need to provide us with copies of your plans ensuring that the public sewers are clearly marked, please include the pipe diameter and the depth of any manholes if you have this information so we can carry out a full assessment.

More information on building over or near to public sewers and how to apply can be found on our buildover page. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a member of the drainage team about your proposals please call us on 03456 066 087

Trade effluent

Trade effluent is any effluent that is produced from a process or activity undertaken at premises that are used to carry out a trade or industry.

These include:

Food and drink production.
Chemical manufacture.
Engineering.
Swimming pools and leisure centres.
Laundries.
Vehicle washing.

Trade effluent doesn’t include domestic sewage - for example used water from hand-washing and the flushing of toilets.

If you intend for your trade effluent discharge to occur within the next 6 months we would strongly advise that you proceed in submitting a G02 Trade effluent application. Details can be found in the ‘How to apply for a consent (non-household premises)’ section here.

For further information in relation to trade effluent please visit our webpage.

If you require any further information or advice then please do not hesitate to contact us on 03450 263 912 or email planningliaison@anglianwater.co.uk.

What's the difference between a domestic & non-domestic service?

Read our guide.

Non Domestic - Water Demand

Read our position statement on water resources for non domestic water demand.

Apply through Inflow

Planning applications

Charges