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I went to check how these work and Google found this.. https://www.wundatrade.co.uk/shop/home/quick-shop/wundatherm-quick-shop/controls-quickshop/actuator-auto-balancing/ I have no idea why they say that because as far as I can tell there is nothing special or different about Heatmiser stats (which I have). Especially as the stats don't even connect directly to the actuators, they go via the wiring centre.

You can render below DPC (just check with the render manufacturer as not all approve their products for that). Personally I would just find frost resistant bricks. Edit: I'm not sure if you can render all engineering bricks as some are slightly glossy? Would render bond well to those?

Planners are capable of rejecting an application if it fails to meet either of the 45 degree rules (plan or elevation). However i am sure they have also approved plans that fail one or both depending on the orientation of the houses. Sadly planning is subjective. No doubt some plans will have been approved or rejected depending on the time of year or even the weather on the day the planning officer visited. Some years ago I applied to build an oak clad outbuilding. At the time I wanted to allow it to "silver" naturally. The planning officer visited and agreed it was acceptable. Got my planning approved and it came with a condition that said I must get the colour approved. When I tried to get "silvered oak" approved I got a reply that it had to be barn black. Go figure. No way was I going to paint a lot of expensive oak that I had already paid for. So I painted a sample black using my kids poster paints and sent it in and got the condition discharged. In the end I decided to stain it very light brown and some sides have faded to grey. Two years later the conservation officer had to visit to assess an application for a windfarm nearby. Never said anything about the colour of my shed. I nearly gave up trying to get PP for my house as they objected to where I wanted to put it on the plot. Then by chance I discovered a letter they had sent the previous owner stating that the position I wanted was "better" than what they had been insisting on. That cost me a year and at least £10k. Hotels, international flights and car hire was required to get to wasted meetings. I'm just telling you this just so you know how fickle and subjective the planners can be. It's why we can't say do this and it will pass/fail. They might reject it even if you meet both 45 degree rules. Edit: If they are minded to reject it they may well give you an opportunity to change the proposal first.

No. The DPC is normally 150mm /6"normally above ground even if the ground is actually a French drain full of pea shingle.

We have engineering bricks below ground but regular (frost resistant) bricks everywhere else inc between ground and DPC.

Search youtube for "electric wood stove" as there are videos showing how convincing some can be. Not sure if this one is available here. Edit: This one uses water vapour to create its effect so perhaps see some of the others.

As for running costs.. Electricity costs about three times mains gas per kWH but is this intended to heat the room on a regular basis or just on Sundays and christmas? In theory flueless gas and electric fires are both 100% efficient as no heat goes up a chimney in either case. However a flueless gas fire may still need more ventilation than an electric fire so some heat is lost that way.

Have you got a chimney/flue or are you looking at flueless gas fires? The latter produce a lot of water vapour so can cause condensation and mould unless well ventilated. If no flue i would go electric. Some of the electric "wood burner" stoves look ok.

According to this you can order a copy of a Fensa certificate from Fensa but only if they have sent one to them. Costs £25. Nice earner for their photocopier.. https://forms.fensa.org.uk/fensa-certificate You might try looking up your place to see if they know about it yet.

My understanding is that Class 30 or 50 refers to the compressive strength of 30 or 50 N/mm^2 (Newtons per square mm). According to this Class B engineering bricks need a compressive strength of at least 75 N/mm^2 so Class 30 and 50 don't meet Class B.. https://www.wienerberger.co.uk/tips-and-advice/brickwork/how-can-i-identify-different-types-of-bricks.html#:~:text=Class B engineering bricks have,red and blue engineering bricks. Engineering bricks are normally hidden away in piers or foundations so perhaps go back to your SE if you are having problems finding the right colour. See if he can't design them out or hide them or agree 50N/mm^2 is ok. They should have a frost rating as well. I also recommend choosing bricks with low effervescence to minimise white salt deposits on visible bricks.

Yes normally you need both plan an elevation to meet the 45 degree rule. If you meet the permitted development rules planning permission isn't required so the 45 degree rule is irrelevent. You might be able to build up to the boundary (as long as nothing like the gutters overhang) thereby getting back the area lost by making it 3m deep instead of 3.4m. Just be aware there are other rules you need to meet to come under Permitted Development such a within 2m of the boundary the eaves must be less than 3m high. However you can have a pitched roof with the ridge at 4m. The width of the extension must also be less than half the width of the house.

Single skin brick walls can be very porous. +1 to render or cladding. May need planning permission?

1) Yes 2) The centre of the whole window not individual panes. 3) Ive not looked at the BRE guide in ages but thought the 25 degree rule applied to extension facing/opposite a window rather than beside one. 4) These things can sometimes be subjective. The original right to light legislation is quite different and more complex. The 45 degree guidance is an attempt to simplify it but isn't "law". In most cases its a guide which if breached means the planners will look more closely at the proposal or require more evidence that adequate light remains. It doesnt apply to permitted development at all.

Check insulation isn't blocking ventilation at the eaves..

Isn't this what microwave ovens are for? No rod to wash up either.

Is it possible water in the pipe froze increasing the pressure? When you turn off the valve to isolate the tap in winter perhaps open the outside tap.

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+1 The existing house might be able to get a policy but it sounds to me like that one doesnt have a problem, I was thinking about the new/proposed house and the other potential plots.

Will it be oil or gas boiler?

I forgot to ask how powerful your combi is? Do your cold taps have significantly better flow than the hot?

Pretty sure you cannot pump the output of a combi boiler! Your first job is to get the supply properly measured. You need to know what pressure and flow rate the incoming main can supply without any restrictions due to the existing boiler etc. Sometimes you can do that at a kitchen cold tap or garden tap or both at once. If the incoming flow rate is poor some form of variable volume storage tank is needed (A regular unvented tank does not provide this). You would normally use a vented tank in the roof feeding a hot water cylinder and pumped to the showers (or pumped to all hot outlets). The CH side of the existing combi boiler could be used to heat the hot water cylinder and the DHW side could be used for one shower or perhaps the kitchen tap. If the static pressure is ok you might be able to use an accumulator tank to store cold water at mains pressure. Its possible thats what he meant but few plumbers seem to know about them. If you understand electronics they behave a bit like a capacitor in a power supply.

Overall I like it. For my mind the living room is a bit small. I would be tempted to make room (10) the dining room, then make kitchen slightly smaller and living room bigger. It might not be possible in your case but if room (10) became the dining room I would also look at making it open plan to the stairs/corridor (4). Corridors are a waste of space in my view. If you want to make the house bigger now there are things you could delay if the budget got tight... For example both garages and the terrace over garage 6 could be delayed until later. Plus some of the walling near the patio? Alternatively consider what you could add later to increase space. Conservatory where that tree is in the crook of the L?

Is the FFL below ground?

+1 If water can get in the top through decking it needs to get out somehow. In a down pour could be several inches of water in there needing to drain out. Its normal to put drainage holes through retaining walls, which is essentially what you have now its full of hardcore. From Paving Expert website..

Our house is on three levels/steps. We tanked the uphill side of the steps and put in a perforated pipe into gravel. They lead out sideways to a surface water drain. Will the walls also be retaining walls? If so they need careful design.