Are there any regulations/guidance regarding building houses over underground distribution or transmission lines?

Question

There is a proposal to build houses in an area that has overhead lines (will find out what type) . They plan to underground the overhead lines and build "over" them. Are there regulations covering this? Or is it just a question of working out exposure to emf? If you can build OVER what about maintenance?

mapj1 · Answer

Buried lines generate very low EMF compared to overhead. If you post a photo of the overheads I and others on here can probably take a stab at the voltage. That will tell you the likely ranges of types and depth of buried cables. 
 It will depend rather on exactly what is there and what is proposed. The sort of lines that go on wooden poles with a cross bar become a plastic clad cable of a few inches in diameter and no more than a metre or two down. The high voltage 6 arm metal pylons become something considerably more chunky ;-) 
 The lines can only be routed in way that they are not exactly built directly over - they may be under road, gardens, paths and driveways, but not under any heavy masonry or multistory structures without bridging lintels etc, usually avoided. The properties in the direct path will have deeds clauses that require access to the affected parts to be maintained, so network operator permission is needed to dig deeper than some depth, or to build anything more permanent than a wooden shed or fence panels that can be lifted away or demolished in a hurry if there is ever an emergency. (think road digging crew and digger or forklift arriving at 1AM and lots of orange flashing lights kind of hurry, same as they do for gas leaks and similar ). It is most unlikely to ever be required, but the access restrictions are needed. Those properties on the route may end up with odd shaped boundaries and or lower prices, in some cases there may be annual 'easement' payments from the operators to the land owner - much as there is if there is a telephone pole in your front garden and your solicitor was on the ball. 
 It will vary but it can be done. Sometimes it is easier to take a new cable round the outside edge of the development. Mike.

Are there any regulations/guidance regarding building houses over underground distribution or transmission lines?

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