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Dear all, as some of you will know I have been fighting for planning permission down in Devon and Torridge District Planning department have fought me all the way, even slapping a demolition order on a garage I was building under permitted development ( I appealed that as well) . Well I did my own appeal ( not difficult) and of four points the council original refused planning permission for they capitulated on three of them after I presented my evidence ( they had this information all along) . I have just received an Email from the Secretary of State inspector to say she supports my appeal on all grounds with no condition other than those already agreed with the council. She also mentioned the councils objections that I proved we're not valid supporting my evidence. Torridge council has such a bad reputation for being a PITA. You cannot go into a builders merchant without hearing builders complaining about the council. After the build I intend taking my story to the local press, " is Torridge Distrct Council planning fit for purpose, I think not" just to show they are wasting council tax on fighting planning appeals where planning should've been approved. I have also heard from my architect that the government are going to take Torridge into " special measures ". So, hip hip hooray, now the serious questions on this forum will start to appear.✌️

Yes, a two story cottage with small skeilings in the bedrooms to keep the overall height as low as possible. The council wanted room in roof with velux,s. Next door is room in roof and is taller than the cottage we are building. The council said our build would be dominant but the inspector repeated my point that it's smaller than next door and also is a hip roof ( unlike next door) so its mass is reduced by clever design. People power✌️

I knew you'd win but it's great to see it official. What utter pillocks the people at your council are. What possible advantage would they have bought their constituents even if they'd won? The money would be better spent on something productive, clearly. Anyway, this is great news. I was about to have a wee G&T, so I'll drink to kicking against the pricks!

Today is a sad day, After over 5 years of dutiful service my Makita SDS has drilled its last hole I have put this through some serious abuse over its time with me, its cored 6" holes through concrete, drilled probably tens of thousands of reasonable sized holes for me. broken down numerous walls, its been dropped in a river, its had no grease in its gearbox for months, and today I finally managed to burn out its brushes......

"your" issues? Check the welds? Has he actually seen what they sent you!? I'd just say no, you've had a year and several attempts, if that's the best offer you have, give me a refund. Did you pay by credit card?

Bet that is a relief. Then the fun begin now.

Well done for keeping the fight going. If the council thinks you have got one over them will they not try to nail you over something else during the build.

My thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Congratulations, good to see backbone fighting the planners when you know you're right

Brilliant news.

Worth the wait so crack on ..!! It is a 3 storey castle in lime green cladding with "Up Yours" in 3ft high letters on the roof you're building isn't it ....?

Well done. now you can ENJOY the build.

Indeed congratulations Joe, Its been a long time coming........

Let me be the first to congratulate you...well done Joe, perseverance and tenacity win again. Love it. Erm...well...second?

Should have gone to specsavers, its @Barney12 gap, not mine. Where I win is that I can now ignore sure fripperies as window gaps because I know I'd be better off burning it down than trying to fix.

I had a HUGE amount of construction timber on our site. I sat and looked at it and said "I really cant throw away / burn most of that". It then dawned on me just how much work it would be to de-nail, sort and then stack (somewhere!). In the end I just put an advert on Gumtree "Free Wood", It was ALL gone within a day. One guy turned up with a Luton van and filled it. Many others just filled their cars for fire wood.

@readiescards Buy a pressure gauge and fit a non return ( double check ) valve to it. Connect that to your outside tap and leave on for 48 hours. That will capture the peak STATIC pressure available and is critical survey info to ascertain your best cold mains solution. 1 2 3 Test and report back.

I dimly remember that. In my day, my first mobile phone was still several years away and I was one of the first 1500 people in the UK to own one, engagement was like getting a bike for Easter and not being able to ride it until Christmas. There were highlights though - Saturdays spent in Heals choosing furniture (most of which we still have), dropping into Peter Jones to choose a 'dinner service' - some of which we still have, commissioning the rings - both of which we still have, evenings dancing at the Ritz, the sanctity of ones club - Malden and District Society of model engineers, booking the venue - Woolwich town hall - not so trendy then, making the bed - I mean carpentry, 'weekends maintaining our independence', 'weekends being Mr and Mrs smith'. Through all of it however I cannot recall any discussions about towel rails or the definition of a radiator. I don't know, the youth of today...