Jack757

We are nearly through all the legal paperwork and need to get on with making decisions... We have an old bungalow within a half acre plot which are are looking to demolish and build 4 bed house on. We also want to build a large storage/workshop at the bottom of the garden (garden only is green belt). We were going to apply for P.D for workshop, build and use for storage and then apply for planning for the house but due to how much the existing bungalow is costing us currently and £50k quotes for workshop I'm now wondering whether to apply and build the house first and use self storage short term. I believe if we submit planning for both incorporating the workshop it would not get passed as per architects feelings and potentially neighbour issues, so looks like it would them be P.D after once house complete. Opinions please. Anyone had similar circumstances. Would P.D after being an issue or would we be better doing it first? Thank you

@joe90Thanks. The old existing garage which is block and render was pretty watertight and not too noticeably cold (no insulation) until recently when the roof started leaking, however it is now over 40 years old so no surprise. That is partly why we are thinking of the same opposed to steel, although without the flat roof! I'm presuming the architect will factor building regs in, wouldn't he? I haven't instructed him further since our last meeting and we need to start getting on with this soon as want started before house plans move forward. We know nothing about building and this kind of thing so quite a learning curve and wonder what on earth we are doing!!!!

@Gus Potter Thanks. So this is an image of what we have been quoted on so far which is what we were potentially looking at for a steel structure. 12x8Mx2.4M to eaves. 2 manual roller doors, and privacy door. 40mm insulation to walls and roof, just the cost seems very high without groundworks cost, whatever that will add on. We've got a house to build after so don't want to go to OTT with the workshop funds. We are in the East so cold not too much of an issue, he can add electric heaters in the future if he's too chilly!!! No lift/hoist needed. To be honest we are so busy we would rather just get someone to do the lot and it means we don't have to be on site either.

Our intentions are to put in a 12M x 8M workshop/garage at the bottom of the garden under permitted development. This to be approx 2.4M and 2M away from boundaries. To have 2 roller doors and single privacy door. No electrics to be fitted yet until main house is built which could be a couple of years after. This would be the structure, groundworks and installation. Access not an issue. We are stuck on the best structure to use between insulated steel frame/roof or block with render. I believe brick would be far too expensive. We are looking for the most cost effective option but also that it will not condensate and is suitable for storing classic cars and working on them (Ramp will not be needed). Ideally would also like to fix whatever we need to the inner walls. Also being in the country we are prone to rodents so needs to be pest proof and long lasting. We've had a couple of quotes for steel structures with installation around 40k (no groundwork costs yet) but are yet to look into block. Anyone got anything similar? Any advice please?

@AlexGe Hi. I've been following this as just starting to look at similar (without mezzanine) under permitted development. How have you got on? Did you find the cheapest option or if block/brick was reasonable?

Thanks for all your additional comments, still food for thought as think we will go ahead with our architect designing and make the decision further along the line... I'm still liking the brick/block construction route currently but lots of ideas to look at first. @SarahG Thanks for your comments... Great to hear of a similar path. We are a little stuck at moment as are applying for permitted development to put a large workshop up which we can granted and started before going ahead with plans. We are in no rush currently, just getting fed up with paying the bills on a second property whilst we decide. Hoping ours isn't that much per sqm. We are in Essex but been given a figure of approx £2k sqm, which is still considerably more than we started considering this pre covid! I was also hoping to get a builder to do all the first part and then take over project managing and get separate people in after that to save some costs. Look forward to seeing your updates as sounds very similar to us.

Thank you all for your comments. @Thorfun I'm slowly heading more towards timber frame going by what I am reading. I am going slowly through the comments and forums but such a minefield. I keep saying to myself is it worth it.... hopefully so and the upheaval will pay off in the end. Hopefully I will be able to update as I get further along. @ProDaveThank you. I'm certainly looking more along this route and think timber frame and brick skin does appeal. @SteamyTea Perfect, very true regarding the spirit level ha-ha. We wanted to keep things simple and certainly would not be going ott with kitchens and bathrooms. We are just looking for a warm functioning family house that has enough space for us and doesn't cost a fortune to run, nor too much cleaning for me! Not too far from Southend. @TimCxGood idea. Haven't seen anything similar to that around here but will keep my eye out and see what info I can find.

@Temp Thank you for your comments. I am not particularly fussed about the oak frame it was just another method brought into the equation which we hadn't considered and I don't think the extra cost and problems will warrant for what we want. We have started with photos etc for the Architect, we are governed by the style and size what is in the road and I have been reviewing lately what has and hasn't been allowed. The Architect has a fixed fee price which I was only hoping to use initially for plans and through approval, possibly for tender paperwork. Each we can do stage by stage. I have plenty of free time on my hands and am in no major rush. @Russell griffiths Thank you for your comments. We are not at planning approval yet. We are well under what would be allowed on the size of the plot and by other new builds, our small 4 bedroom will be tiny in comparison to the many large 6 bedrooms standing in the street. We just have a fair few restrictions on height, distance from front to road and property style. We will have the majority of the 500k budget to pay when needed whether in advance or as we go, therefore paying for a timber frame would not be an issue just whether it is the best option. We could always leave driveways, gates, patios and internal finishing until later if need be.

Where to start!!!! I have an 1/2 acre serviced plot with a bungalow to be demolished. Found an Architect that I seem happy with, however..... I'm so confused and we are not really off the starting blocks yet. We were adamant we wanted a traditional block/brick house. 4 bedroom about 220/240sqm with a useable but not habitable loft, Mid spec, budget approx 500k. Following a recent house builders exhibition, we are now thinking is a wood framed house (like Potton), oak framed or SIP better. Previously having a new build I hated the paper thin walls hence why we like our current old brick built house but for what I'm led to believe self builds are not like this and the alternatives may be a better way to go? Advice please. What are people's opinions? We seem to take one step forward and ten back.. SIP look to be future proof but then I worry about reading of a 65year timescale on these and this house I potentially want to live in for the next 30 years and pass to my children being no good further down the line. Oak framed look lovely but seen to incorporate an awful lot of glass to most of them which we do not want and are we paying the extra just for the 'oak effect'. Potton and the likes of do not fill me with confidence and reviews do not seem that great. Brick/block.... Is it not worthwhile anymore, we were looking at solar panels with battery, underfloor heating, air pump etc but would this lose too much heat. Since originally thinking of this project pre Covid prices have also considerably increased and is this size property doable still on our budget? Help a girl out please

Where to start!!!! I have an 1/2 acre serviced plot with a bungalow to be demolished. Found an Architect that I seem happy with, however..... I'm so confused and we are not really off the starting blocks yet. We were adamant we wanted a traditional block/brick house. 4 bedroom about 220/240sqm with a useable but not habitable loft, Mid spec, budget approx 500k. Following a recent house builders exhibition, we are now thinking is a wood framed house (like Potton), oak framed or SIP better. Previously having a new build I hated the paper thin walls hence why we like our current old brick built house but for what I'm led to believe self builds are not like this and the alternatives may be a better way to go? Advice please. What are people's opinions? We seem to take one step forward and ten back.. SIP look to be future proof but then I worry about reading of a 65year timescale on these and this house I potentially want to live in for the next 30 years and pass to my children being no good further down the line. Oak framed look lovely but seen to incorporate an awful lot of glass to most of them which we do not want and are we paying the extra just for the 'oak effect'. Potton and the likes of do not fill me with confidence and reviews do not seem that great. Brick/block.... Is it not worthwhile anymore, we were looking at solar panels with battery, underfloor heating, air pump etc but would this lose too much heat. Since originally thinking of this project pre Covid prices have also considerably increased and is this size property doable still on our budget? Help a girl out please