Septic tank installation in Shropshire
Shropshire is one of England's most rural counties, with farmsteads, hill cottages and small villages across the Marches that have never been on mains sewerage. Septic tank replacements, treatment plants for conversions and surveys for house sales are all common.
In the south-west of the county one river changes the rules: the Clun.
New septic tank and drainage field£4,000 to £10,000a guide, not a quote
The River Clun and Shropshire ground
The River Clun is a special area of conservation for its freshwater pearl mussels (JNCC: River Clun special area of conservation), and nutrients from septic tanks and treatment plants are one of the pressures on it. Under the binding rules for surface water discharges, a discharge in or within 500 metres of a special area of conservation or a pearl mussel population cannot use the rules and needs a permit or a sewer connection. Shropshire Council publishes its own nutrient guidance for new development in the Clun catchment, so check with the council early if you are building or converting there.
Elsewhere the ground varies from heavy boulder clay on the north Shropshire plain, which often fails percolation tests, to thin soils over rock in the Shropshire Hills. Both point towards treatment plants more often than in lowland counties with free-draining soil.
What to watch for in Shropshire
- Anything in the River Clun catchment
- Heavy clay on the north Shropshire plain
- Thin soils over rock in the hills
- Shared systems on farm conversions
- Old brick tanks under yards
Building control: Shropshire Council, or Telford and Wrekin Council for the Telford area, or an approved inspector.
Work installers take on in Shropshire
- Septic tank replacement: Old, cracked or non-compliant tank out; a new tank or a treatment plant in.
- Sewage treatment plant installation: Powered treatment that can discharge to a stream or ditch where a septic tank cannot.
- Drainage field installation: The trenches that return treated effluent to the ground, sized from a percolation test.
- Septic tank survey: An inspection for a sale or purchase, or before deciding whether to replace.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| New septic tank with a new drainage field | £4,000 to £10,000 |
| Sewage treatment plant, installed | £6,000 to £12,000 |
| New drainage field | £1,500 to £4,000 |
| Site survey and percolation test | £250 to £500 |
Questions from Shropshire
How much does septic tank installation cost in Shropshire?
National published ranges apply: about £4,000 to £10,000 for a septic tank and drainage field, or £6,000 to £12,000 for a treatment plant.
Are there special rules in the Clun valley?
Yes. The River Clun is a special area of conservation for pearl mussels, so a discharge in or within 500 metres of it falls outside the general binding rules. New development also has to address nutrients. Talk to the Environment Agency and Shropshire Council early.
My drainage field is in clay and keeps flooding. What now?
A larger or redesigned field, a mound, or a treatment plant to a flowing watercourse. A percolation test shows which is realistic.
Do I need planning permission to replace a septic tank in Shropshire?
A like-for-like replacement often does not, but Building Regulations approval is needed for a new tank or plant. Check with Shropshire Council if the outlet or location changes.
Ask for a site visit in Shropshire
Three short steps: where the property is, what the system needs, and how to reach you. About two minutes.
A free matching service, not a off-mains drainage installer. We look for one who works in your area and name them to you first. Nothing is shared until you say yes.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- We look for an off-mains drainage installer who works in your area and takes on this kind of job, then email or call to tell you who it is.
- Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They arrange a site visit, test the ground if needed and give you a written price. No marketing from us, ever.