You need permission from the Environment Agency and Building Control to
construct a septic tank soakaway. They will approve the plans and the
latter
check contruction. Probably a firm that advertises under Sewage
Consultants
would be the best. If you make friends with your local building control
they
may be able to make an informal suggestion of who use. Whne you bought the
property the discharge consent should have been transferred to your name.
Was this done?

I would assume so, presumably I would need to check with my local
building control (whoever they are - council planning dept I guess?).

As I already have a soakaway (presumably under my name) would new
permissions need to be granted if a new one was to be constructed in
the same area or if the old one needed to be re-constructed?

To clarify things (No pun intendced!) the EA are the people who give the
permission whilst BC, not the planners, oversee the construction. The EA
will be able to tell you who the consent, assuming there is one, is in the
name of. Unless you have had it transferred to you then your discharge is
illegal. AIUI you need permission even if you are replacing an existing
soakaway. Certainly I did when mine was done about five years ago. I
suggest you talk to the EA first as BC have no remit at this stage.

Peter Crosland