Replacing oil tank

[PipPip]

Our thatched cottage is grade II listed and in a conservation area. It has oil fired heating and the existing oil tank is old and rusting so I want to replace it. Just been reading about current regulations on siting tanks and ours would not comply given that its right up against a neighbours fence. Problem is, I cannot think of a better place to put it. In the garden would require miles of pipe work and destroy ancient garden in a conservation area surrounded by thatched cottages. Really the only place where it would meet the regulations whilst being a sensible distance from the boiler for pipes is in the middle of the driveway! I presume I need planning consent to get the tank replaced even if with with something of the same size but no idea how I get approval to effectively breach the guidance on siting tanks a certain distance from boundary fences. How would you proceed - ask conservation officer to opine (although experience tells me they simply won't!)?
Thanks
Dave

 

[Owain]

You can't drive or put plants over them, but if you changed to LPG the tank can be buried under the lawn.

I'm sorry that probably doesn't help much

 

[Baron de Gynes]

You can't drive or put plants over them

Why not? Granted, it's unusual to find an alternative to a bunded tank in a forlorn corner of the garden, but why can't they be buried?

Surely there's a manufacturer somewhere that makes underground heating oil tanks and it wouldn't be outside the realms of possibility to make a supporting driveway surface to take the load from vehicles above.

Placing it somewhere else may be cheaper but you could do worse than get some quotes from folk who will know the regulations inside out. They'll be able to give advice on the best way to proceed.

 

[88v8]

Perhaps you could put a really good paint system on the existing tank, to stop it rusting. There are many paint systems for classic cars that are effective.
Then you could also paint it a colour of your choosing.

After all, your cottage survived because it was maintained rather than being discarded when it needed fixing...

Ivor

 

[Flyfisher]

Would a like-for-like replacement of the tank be acceptable, assuming it's possible to buy such tanks these days, or would it be regarded as a new installation that has to meet all the latest regs? (although if truly like-for like, who could tell? :shock: ).

 

[DJH]

Condensation inside below ground oil storage tanks was always a problem in my time. No doubt this problem has been overcome nowadays.

Doug

 

[vicky whitworth]

Why don't you just replace it with the modern plastic, double-bund type exactly where it is now? Who will know? Who will object? Your neighbour won't object because they'd prefer you to have a leak-proof tank than the current rusty one.

 

[PipPip]

I've organised for a specialist company to come out on Thursday to survey and quote. If they will replace like for like (or a modern plastic tank of similar size) in same location then great, planning and conservation officers need not know. However, I was under the impression that fitters are regulated and have to do it by the book. Neighbour can hardly object as he used to live in the cottage and he placed it there in the first place plus his tank is next to the fence on his side. I am keen to replace as whoever fitted it was not very clever - the feeder pipe from the tank to the boiler is attached to the bottom of the fence panels. So if a fence panel blows down in a storm the feeder pipe will be ripped out or snapped causing massive oil damage. Very silly, clearly a cowboy installed it originally.
Thanks for the replies, will see how I get on with the survey. Might be a matter of getting a number of quotes until I find one happy to replace in the existing location !
Dave

 

[Stevie816]

Hi
we have a new bunded tank in our garden. We downloaded the regulations and I got a builder to do the base according to the regulations and then bought a tank and fitted it.
Modern oil heaters require a gravity feed to the pump so the tank should be higher than the oil inlet on the burner , the pump on the burner does not have the power to lift the oil for long and the pump will soon wear out,or draw air.
Concider a smaller tank,say 500 liters if you join an oil buying group you generally get the maximum discount at 500l .so maybe they have to deliver more frequently that's not your problem .
If you can't please everyone then just please yourself.