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What is a NAV?

New appointments and variations (NAVs) are limited companies who can be appointed to provide a water and/or sewerage service to customers in an area which was previously provided by the incumbent monopoly provider.

These companies are appointed by Ofwat and have the same duties and responsibilities as any other statutory water company. For more information on becoming a NAV, or this application type please see guidance published on Ofwat’s website.

Generally, a NAV can be granted in a few situations:

  • The area is considered ‘unserved’ i.e. no properties in the area are served by a current appointed company.
  • The current appointed company consents to transfer an area.
  • A large demand of at least 50 mega litres of water per year

Our process guidance for this application type is detailed below. We have a team dedicated to NAVs as we understand the importance of getting this right without any delay. For more information, please get in touch with our team on 0345 357 2428.

Details on our specific NAV charges can be found here.

How to apply for a NAV

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Welcome to our NAV application process! Enquiries should be made through our online portal. Once your application is received, our dedicated team will thoroughly review it and aim to respond to you within 5 days to confirm acceptance or ask for any missing information.

We've made it easy for you to navigate and choose the path that suits your needs. Here are the two routes available for applying for a NAV site:

  • NAV SSL & Pre-development
  • NAV Bulk Supply

NAV SSL & Pre-development

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NAV SSL & Pre-development is a free of charge application that provides you with a Site Status Letter (SSL) and a budget estimate in the form of a Pre-Development report.

  • What we need from you - In order to do this you’ll need to send us a site location plan showing the site boundary (on an OS background). On occupied sites, if there are existing premises within the proposed NAV boundary, please provide any available details of the occupant & plans for future supply.
  • What you'll get from us - When we have all the information we need we will issue the following within 21 days
  • Site Status Letter - If you are applying under the “unserved” criteria you’ll need confirmation from us of the served status of a site. This will support your application to Ofwat.
  • We’ll complete the necessary assessments to understand the impact of the proposed development on our network and provide a NAV Pre-development report outlining;

When you're ready to move forward, you'll be able to convert this application in to a full NAV Bulk Supply application via the online portal.

NAV Bulk Supply

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If you are confident that you wish to apply for a NAV site and/or are short on time, you can skip the free NAV SSL & Pre-development step and apply directly for NAV Bulk Supply application, which is subject to application & design fees.

  • What we need from you - When it comes to making a full application you’ll need to send us a site location plan showing the site boundary & preferred point of connection (.dwg format with an OS background) and the demand information for the proposed site.
  • What you'll get from us - When we have all the information we need we will issue the following within time scales detailed
    • Site Status Letter - If you are applying under the “unserved” criteria you’ll need confirmation from us of the served status of a site. This will support your application to Ofwat. The Site Status Letter will either be revised if any changes since the NAV SSL & Pre-development application or created if you have applied directly for a NAV Bulk Supply application within 21 days.
    • We’ll complete the necessary assessments to understand the impact of the proposed development on our network and provide a NAV Bulk Supply Cost Advice within 28 days outlining;
      • Proposed design of bulk water connection
      • the cost of providing a bulk water connection to your site,
      • capacity availability and constraints,
      • information on any reinforcement works (where applicable) and;
      • details of any infrastructure charges, credits and income offset applicable to your site.

You can submit your enquiry through our online portal and once received a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your site. We will then complete the necessary assessments and issue a NAV Bulk Supply Cost Advice to you within 28 days.

What next?

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When you have received your Cost Advice, reviewed it and are ready to move forward, we need you to make necessary payments and accept the NAV Bulk Supply Cost Advice on our online portal.

  • Bulk Supply Agreement - We’ll (both parties) need to enter into the bulk water agreement for your site. This outlines the details of the supply and general arrangement between us for the site. Ofwat will not grant the new appointment or variation without this being in place, so it’s an important step. We aim to get this standard agreement to you well within 28 days.
  • Bulk Water Connection - When you are ready for your bulk water connection you will need to make the necessary payments and get in touch with us to discuss the work and agree programme dates. We will work with you throughout this stage of the process to ensure it all goes smoothly.Depending upon the work we are undertaking this can take up to 90 days however we’ll do what we can to meet your programme needs. If there are any third-party constraints (ie a Road Closure) that may delay us we’ll let you know.

What are your NAV charges?

We have prepared a document that sets out our charges to NAVs, which you can open or download here.

We are committed to providing you with a smooth and efficient application experience. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance along the way, please click here to email us your comments. We look forward to helping you with your NAV site application!

NAV Timeline

NAV SSL & Pre-development

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1. Submit your application for a NAV Bulk Supply using our online portal. You will need to provide:-

  • Evidence of your appointment by Ofwat
  • Site plans
  • Your preferred point of connection
  • DWG showing site boundary & POC
  • Expected pressure and flows to your site in M3 & daily peak demand L/S
  • Build Rate

2. Make payment for the necessary application and design fees quoted. See Payment information.

3. Within 5 calendar days of receiving your application we will confirm in writing that we have everything needed to answer your enquiry.

4. The Site Status Letter will either be revised if any changes since the NAV SSL & Pre-development application or created if you have applied directly for a NAV Application within 21 calendar days.

NAV Bulk Supply

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1. We will begin to review your proposed connection point and draft a Bulk Supply Offer which will detail:-

  • The terms under which our relationship will work in the future
  • Your point of connection
  • Capacity and assets in the area
  • Expected pressure and flows to your site

2. We will return the Bulk Supply Offer to you within 28 calendar days of accepting your application

3. You will need to ensure you understand our terms before continuing

NAV Bulk Supply Cost Advice

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1. After our acceptance of your application and payment is received, our Design Team will begin to design how we best provide you with your bulk supply.

2. We will begin to review your proposed connection point and draft a NAV Bulk Supply Cost Advice which will detail:-

  • Cost to provide your bulk water connection
  • Your point of connection
  • Capacity and assets in the area
  • Expected pressure and flows to your site

3. We will return the NAV Bulk Supply Cost Advice to you within 28 calendar days of accepting your application

4. You will need to ensure you understand our terms before continuing

Payment

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1. Review and accept your quote on the My Developments portal, and make payment. See Payment information.

2. After your acceptance, agreement and payment is received, our Design Team will begin to design how we best provide you with your bulk supply.

Bulk Supply Agreement

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1. After payment our Design Team will draft a Bulk Supply Agreement within 28 days. This will include:-

  • The details of how our relationship will work in the future including costs.
  • Your point of connection.
  • Capacity and assets in the area.
  • Expected pressure and flows to your site.

2. ou will need to review and have returned a signed copy to us to proceed.

Construction

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1. Once we have a signed Bulk Supply Agreement, your Liaison Engineer will be in contact to introduce themselves to you and understand to your timescales.  We will then instruct our delivery partner to make your connection and any required reinforcement in line with our agreement.

2. Your connection will normally happen within 28 days although if we need to close the road this can take up to 12 weeks.

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