Dreadnaught

Good challenge. Hmm, some more thought is needed. Thank you all. That has been very helpful!

I worry more about the construction phase. Can I build a timber frame house (single floor) so close to a boundary, with just a 50 cm gap? Also, does anyone know of any planning principles about how close a new build can be to a boundary? I have heard of a 1.2m figure mentioned, but I am not sure if that's just a guideline or whether its a requirement.

Sadly, planning wont allow it. No flue. Could be rainwater pipes.

Not sure yet. Architect has not done their work. No windows on that side, just roof windows (which hopefully would be > 1m from the boundary as the crow flies). Could do. But swings and roundabouts. Its part of a wider deal.

The fence will be the responsibility of the neighbour. Regarding maintaining my wall, I imagine it would mean squeezing in the 50cm gap. Is that too little? Its a single floor (bungalow) but good point about ladders for cleaning the roof windows on that side. It could be, but I have a tiny plot so keen to use it all.

This will be a new build bungalow. I am negotiating boundaries on my plot with the vendor. He is proposing to provide a little extra space to erect a fence beyond the outside wall of my future house (the boundary fence was missed off the plot as advertised). The construction method of my house will be timber frame, wooden I-beams (passive house) and rendered. He has suggested 0.5m (50cm) of gap between my outside wall and the fence (a fence that will be in place throughout the build). How much space does a contractor need to erect such a wall? Is 50 cm enough? What about scaffolding?

I'm amidst buying the plot.

Welcome on board! Great to have you here. I will be using a QS shorty for my pending build I expect.

Cat 5 and using a PoE access point for outside use. No need run a separate power cable. Here's an example: https://unifi-mesh.ubnt.com/#products

With the growing popularity of power-over-ethernet (PoE) devices in home automation, I am tempted for my build to install ethernet almost everywhere, and in some unusual locations, such as outside by the front gate, by the front door, where I can imagine having a car charge point, where I want blinds. PoE is now being used for lighting, security cameras, doorbells, and a host of internet-of-things (IoT) things. Who knows if this will bloom and become a ubiquitous standard but if you install the wiring at least you are ready if it does. Changing the subject, if your house is larger than can be covered by a single WiFi router then consider where two will go and give each location an ethernet socket. Buy specialist access points that offer seamless handover (such as UniFi by Ubiquiti) rather than consumer units (including the trendy mesh ones). Ethernet connections between access points is always superior to mesh. It is essential in my opinion that you buy access points that support seamless handover. Two low-end consumer routers will not work nearly as well. They hold on to the waning signal for far too long. UniFi units, for example, which are used widely in commercial installations, have seamless handover, are remarkably cheap, and are rock solid. They offer models for outside use too. Unifi APs do however take a little knowledge to set up but once done require no fiddling.

@Christine Walker good luck. I am sure there is a lot I/we can learn from you. Do share as much as you can on BH. Without hijacking this thread, I am particularly interested in your lessons learnt from your past builds and how you are using them in this one. I am also interested in the PM approach you are taking. And finally I am also interested in how your builder will interface with the frame company. All subjects relevant for me personally.

Welcome on board! As a dreamer, I was in your position a few months ago. Now I have an offer accepted on a plot.

I agree. Ethically dubious at best.

Nice. Out of interest, which company supplied the frame?

In my research, I have heard this said many times. Chippies over bricklayers for attention to detail and a pride in craftsmanship. Another issues I heard is about availability: good chippies are much easier to find than good bricklayers.

Wow, that's a good price. Might you be able to PM me their details?

I would be interested in your SunAmp quote. Andrew Bissell said on Twitter yesterday that prices had dropped recently, to about £1,000 for their most common model with average capacity, and excluding installation (which I imagine is DIY-able).

Out of interest, which timber-frame company did you use?

From the link in your first post. 2 Arrays… Tilt: 25.0°, Azimuth: 240°. The bigger one. Tilt: 25.0°, Azimuth: 150°. The smaller one. Should have read your first post more closely, haha!

https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/ I think.

Nice graphs. Looks like Tetris! I assume the top part is a schematic of the 2x arrays. Do you have yours on an SE – SW orientation, with more SW? What online service is that?

Good question. Anyone know an answer? Yes. I wonder who can challenge the fences? Not just a neighbour: as far as I can see they have no basis for a challenge at all, unless it is a right-of-way. Is the only legitimate challenge for someone to assert a title claim to the land? In my case it has been well established on multiple occasions by multiple people that that owner has been lost in the mists-of-time. Thus is no challenge even possible?

Thanks @nod. Any do's or dont's? Is it just a matter of fencing and a long wait? Who can challenge the fences (other than an owner, which in my case certainly does not exist)?

Does anyone have any experience of grabbing a small piece of land that nobody owns and which abuts your own land? I am familiar with the legal principles of adverse possession, I am more interested in the period before, when the grabbing actually occurs.

These people perhaps http://electropatent.co.uk/product/bespoke-floor-boxes/?