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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:19 pm
by Edgecraft
Hi
Thought you might be interested in something I found out today from my Brother.
He owns a factory and has just received a letter from united utilities regarding the cost of their drainage services and how the method of charging is changing from April 1st.
He currently pays £70 per year, Next year the new price will be phased in and will increase to £500, year after that £1000 and the year after that £1500 !
They are now including non permeable areas such as car parks etc... in the costing method and not just working out the cost from the rateable value of the building, they are also using Satellite images to check your site to see what you've got !
This could massively affect the paving industry as we are talking about business customers being charged large sums of money "long Term" for anything that doesn't soak away !
Find more here: United Utilities
Darren
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:14 pm
by Pablo
Holy Sh*t thats one hell of a price hike if I had any money knocking about I'd be buying shares in that company cos they will be announcing obscene record profits next year. Doesn't seem fair considering how much commercial property already pays in rates which are meant to cover services like that. Sustainable drainage is a good thing but they should offer a decent tax incentive or grant for it.
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:33 am
by lutonlagerlout
i am buying some tomorrow
LLL 
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:14 am
by Edgecraft
Hi
It's not just United Utilities, if you check the Faq's you'll find:
Q – Do other water companies use this way of charging?
Yes. Thames Water, Severn Trent and Northumbrian Water are three examples.
I think this is going to be nation wide !
Darren
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:49 pm
by lutonlagerlout
united utilities are the very last share on the times's share pages
i have a feeling that this kinda stuff is already built in to their share price,stockbrokers are very aware of future earnings rather than what they earn now
as i have found to my cost 
LLL
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:22 pm
by bobbi o
recent spec tendered for permeable paving was:
350mm capping layer
terram geo membrane
450mm granular 20mm-5mm resevoir
80mm permeable block paving
brushed into joints 3-5mm fine clean aggregate.
cant remember the total sq.m cost for above full spec,but cost for blocks and laying only was £24 per sq.m
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:44 am
by lutonlagerlout
from what i have seen of permeable it must cost an arm and a leg,lot more muck away etc
would it be cheaper edgecraft for your brother to sink a borehole and let the carpark drain into that ?
we had a guy who had terrible drainage problems and he got a company out who drilled a whole 15 M deep by about 300 wide to take away his ground water,it was a while back so cannot be sure but i know it cost him about £4k
but once you can prove you are draining your own water surely they cannot charge you??
LLL 
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:11 pm
by Edgecraft
He's in dispute with them at the moment as probably half the site is already permeable and there are also a fair few large trees which must soak up a hell of a lot of water.
Just think how much the likes of ASDA, Tesco and Sainsbury's etc.. are going to be paying across all their sites !
Apparently the water companies new charging method is being backed up by government, "sold down the road again".
I think this all ties in with Tony's Blog on having to get planning permission to pave your garden !
Something is afoot !
Darren
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:56 pm
by keyhole
Edgecraft wrote:Just think how much the likes of ASDA, Tesco and Sainsbury's etc.. are going to be paying across all their sites !
Surely they will get in road contractors to cut narrow 'slots' across their carparks to allow natural drainage?