Building a yard from scratch

squiz22

squiz22

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15 December 2009
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Binfield, Berkshire
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Hi All,

I bought 11 acres a couple of months ago now and we're in the process of submitting the application for 10 stables and manage.. all very exciting stuff. However, I am trying to get all my costs together and get things booked in .. I'm being optimistic that this all goes through ok. Our planner seems to think it should do fingers crossed.
I have some questions I wondered if anyone could answer;

Has anyone paid a plumber to connect the water supply from the edge of the boundary to the stables. This would be to 2 taps and into the tackroom. I would want a toilet in the future too. What roughly did they pay for this. Its a one of my grey areas which is worrying me on my budget sheet!

Secondly,can anyone recommend any companies to build the base. I'm located in Binfield, Berkshire and would like to find some good local contractors.

Has anyone paid a professional to build them a muck heap and again what were the costs involved.

Any other advice you think may be helpful I'd appreciate. This is my project so managing myself and I really don't want to muck it up!

Thanks in advance

Lizzie
 
Is the water supply from an existing billed property out in to the field or off the water main?

If the latter i had a quote for this around the 8-12k mark (cant remember exactly as it was done at the same time as quotes for other things) I remember that electricity and water to my stables from the 'main' would be the best part of £20k so once i came round from my faint i ordered some water butts and good torches!
 
If you have water supply at the property, you don't really need a plumber to connect a couple of taps and tackroom, nor do you need one to fit a loo. Nowadays the pipes are plastic and the fittings are ''easyfit'', you don't even need any complicated tools. What you will need is a digger or a keen bloke with a spade to dig a trench for your supply pipe.
If the property is not connected to mains, the sky is your limit for the price, but you need to contact the water supplier in the area.

ETS: If you want a loo, you will most likely need to either install a septic tank or connect to mains sewer. You will need planning permission for the installation of a septic tank.
 
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We are applying for a new connection. I am currently trying to figure out the form to get back to South east water as we speak.. its driving me crazy!! It is a new supply. Its good to know I could possible do the bit from the edge of the boundary to my stables myself.

I do want a loo.. I have space for it in the plans for the yard but not got much further with it at the moment.. question for the plumber.
 
Connecting to the water mains could well cost a lot of money, especially if there is a lot of road works involved...add a few zeros to the cost of that for the toilet! Toilets needs foul water outlets, i.e. main sewage or septic tank or sewage treatment plant. If you can't go directly to the main sewage it will cost the earth to make other arrangements. You may be a lot better hiring a porta-loo on a long term basis.
 
Happy to recommend Kenward Construction (ad in H&H) who came to me in Guildford, Surrey. They also quoted for a large sleeper midden muck heap with concrete base £6k I can't remember the exact measurements but I think it was to take one and a half tractor and trailer loads. I have three stables and it was big enough for that and all field poo picking too. I had another quote without a concrete base for £1.5k

The groundwork company dug the trenches and laid pipes for water and electric inc in my groundwork price. Electrician and plumbing were extra. We already had water and electric in the house but not running to the yard.
 
To take the pipe from the mains water supply to your stables can easily done by mole drilling a 25mm blue poly pipe. Hardly cost any money at all. Simply dig a deep hole at each end and make one run of the tractor with the molel drill and then tie the pipe to the bottom end of the mole drill and pull it through. Once pulled through drive the trctor wheel over the disturbed grass and it is all done. (Easiest to do before any fencing or concrete foundations are put in place). The water board will charge anything from £2,000 upwards to install a new water mains and water metre.

Suggest a local ground works company to install the concrete bases.
 
We ran our water supply from the meter point and stop tap just inside the boundary. We put everything in place, tap, non-return valve, pipe, spigots and insulation then the water board inspect it and if it is up to scratch they connect it to the mains. Doing it all ourselves cost around £600 plus MDPE 22mm pipe but including the water board charge and meter. If there is nobody on site the tap is meant to be locked away to prevent vandalism.

If you have a local farmer friend you might be able to ask for some help with the ground works, and the supply of any hardcore. We laid our own concrete, to our own measurements. Once you decide on the stable manufacturer you can get base plans drawn up so you could ask them to quote it all in the planning permission details. Some stable companies will undertake the base as part of the installation, but with enough friends and some long timber boards for tamping it you can get it done yourself if you don't mind getting mucky.
 
No comment on prices, but especially if you are going to be on a meter, make sure you insulate well and fit some stop cocks\shut off valves so you can easily turn the water off when its really cold or if you need to do some work. Its amazing how quick the bills ramp up if you have a pipe go when no-one is around and its not noticed for 12-15 hours or more.

The biggest problem with your toilet is going to be what to do with the sewage. Are you going to pay for mains drainage connection, or have you included a septic tank on your plans?
 
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