Benpointer

I assume it's this spreadsheet https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66ec38e0c8398625c331e7eb/Planning_Performance_Dashboard_Table_Final.xlsx And the relevant columns for self-build applications are headed "Non-major development excluding householder development"?

Are you sure that's the water? 😜

I can't access the article. Does it suggest removing the self-build exemption for BNGs?

It should work out 3-4 time more cost effective to run than electric rads because of the COP efficiency. BUT... as others will point out, ASHP and UFH really needs a well insulated airtight house, then you can ditch the idea of heating on/off times and keep the house at a constant comfortable temperature all the time. Other things to consider: air-tightness, MVHR, and triple-glazed windows without trickle vents.

If it were me taking the roof off a bungalow, I'd use it as an opportunity to raise the ground floor enough to put in a decent amount of floor insulation + UFH and replace the bottled gas by ASHP. UFH upstairs too and an 'upside down' house works in your favour where you normally want the living areas a bit warmer than the bedrooms.

Amazing build! No idea how you did that with the budget you had. Mightily impressed by your hard work and tenacity. Well done!

We fitted electric underfloor heating to a large garden room we built on the back of our then house 20 years ago. It was really lovely... Until the first electricity bill came in, at which point we realised it was costing us >£200pm to run. We switched it off and resigned ourselves to not using the garden room in the winter. Of course insulation was a topic unknown to us in those days.

Thanks - great steer. I can take little credit for the brief - input from BH posters on this thread. Very helpful thanks all.

Ah ok, I did wonder. Cheers

Pretty happy with our 15yo Bosch d/w tbh and suspect we'll veer towards another when we build our new kitchen. We chose it because it's very quiet and, as is common these days our kitchen/diner is our main living space.

I like the idea of the F&P double drawer diswasher. One question though: when you pull the drawer out, doesn't the washed crockery drip on the floor? There's always something that's not totally dry.

First quote back £525+VAT. Seems pretty good to me. I requested this: "As discussed, we are seeking a quote for a topographic survey. We are in the process of buying this 0.85acre building plot which currently has full PP for a 3-bed house. [Link to plot] We will be submitting fresh plans for a different design and we will need a topographic survey to cover the following: * Levels across the site, particularly the eastern half of the plot where the house will go * External dimensions and location of the two existing buildings, access driveway, gates, paths, fences. * The ridge and eaves height, and position of neighbouring house on the south of the property * The depth and fall of the ditch along the north west boundary. * If possible, the location and size of the oak tree in the neighbouring plot to the north-east of our plot. [Surveyor confirmed that would be included.] * Anything else you think we might sensibly need from a topographic survey of the plot, I rely on your advice." Can we ask him to invoice zero-rated as it's for a new self-build and there's already PP? It's only £105 but...

In a similar vein, in the far corner by the pantry door is a 900mm two-drawer fridge. By Hotpoint but I think they've sadly stopped making them. Only Fisher & Paykel (££££) and Liebherr sell integrated drawer fridges now I believe. We will definitely look to have one again though as it's so much easier to access than the standard cupboard fridge. Can't think why they are not standard tbh.

Next kitchen we do will be a replica layout to our current one because, not wishing to boast, but I think we have got it perfect: Island with flush induction hob. Two single wall ovens with a warming drawer & microwave in the unit between them. Dishwasher next to the sink. No above worktop wall units. Granite worktops. Pull-out drawers in every unit, no cupboards. Solid acrylic doors - high-gloss and virtually bullet-proof. Oh, and the island unit is table height, not worktop height - makes it much easier to see into the cooking pans (we've no small children around, mind). Sorry but that lot can't be bettered imho.

We have been very happy moving to the Cosy tariff for our ASHP/UFH. We were running it 24x7x52 using the room stats to control demand before we switched to Cosy. Now we just switch it off for the high rate period (16:00 - 19:00). We've not noticed any difference in the warmth of the house but I reckon we're saving >£40 pm using Cosy.

Had our Mitsubishi Ecodan for 14 years now, never had it serviced. Still runs just fine. It's a reverse fridge after all and we don't have our fridge serviced. Had the UFH flushed once, had to replace one HP zone valve actuator. That's it.

Thanks, sorry, missed the replies to this. Will give the Gloomsbury place a miss and visit the Swindon centre. And yes we're in north Dorset, just trying to close out our plot purchase near Shaftesbury. Thanks all

It's a great offer @ETC - well done. We've pretty much decided to bite the bullet and use one of two local architects, pay their costs which will be high. Reasons are: we want some design input, we feel that we aren't necessarily going to come up with the best solution for our plot ourselves. It's a risk though: we could spend £1000s and not be happy with the resulting concept(s) our chosen architects come up with. One thing I am clear in my own mind about though: if we tried to design it ourselves we would end up with something a bit 'ordinary' at best and deeply flawed at worst.

I've fired off quote requests from three local topo surveyors specifying as much as I can, using the suggestions above, but also asking them for guidance given wehat we want to do. In case it's any use to anyone else, I'll report back what responses I get.

I think ditching MVHR is a big miss. It's been a revelation in our current (major refurb) home. It's the first thing we pencilled in for the new house. Ours runs at 58 watts (that's for a 170m2 house).

A very interesting and inspiring project - good luck! I'm thinking that a zinc roof will eat a big chunk out of that £1-1.2k/m2 budget. How much do reckon on for the roof per m2?

Is there a standard topographical survey you will get if you commission one or do you have to specify what you want? Is it just as simple as saying "here's the plot, please survey it" or do we need to request a certain number of readings / frequency of measurement points? Thanks

For the plot we are buying we will need to agree treatment of surface and foul water at some stage (no mains drains). It's occurred to me that two new houses have been built in the last two years just along the road from our plot, they are on smaller plots and will have faced the same water discharge issue - maybe we can learn was works from their solution. When I checked they did indeed have a condition in their approved planning consent: 2/2019/1310/REM 9. No development shall be commenced until a scheme for the disposal of foul, roof and surface water drainage has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter, no part of the development shall be occupied or brought into use until the approved scheme has been fully implemented. That condition has now been discharged (excuse the pun!) here 2/2020/0781/DOC As requested I have considered the information that you submitted in respect of conditions attached to this planning permission and can advise as follows: I can confirm that the information submitted in respect of condition 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 is acceptable in accordance with the terms of the conditions. To fully comply with these conditions, the development must be carried out in accordance with the approved plans and agreed documents. However there are no drawings or other documents attached that show how condition 9 has been discharged. My question is: does the PA have to make all the documents it used to decide to discharge this condition available to view by the public?

We're in a similar position. I used a local planning consultant who was recommend by our EA - the one selling our house, not the one selling the plot were are buying. The planning consultant looked at the current PP, looked our our brief , and met with us for an hour to discuss our chances of getting what we want (which he rated as good). He did this for £250+VAT. Of course we cannot hold him to his opinion if we subsequently struggle to get the revised plans we want through, but it was enough to give us the confidence to proceed. We also to a good look at as many recent nearby planning applications as we could find, both granted and refused.