MDC

I'll ask. I'm doubtful they'll pay the credits into my bank.

Does anyone have any thoughts about being charged for electricity when the meter is broken? Last August I bought a house I'm planning to replace. I took a photo of the blank meter on the first day. When EDF got in touch a month later, they sent me an estimated bill [both readings estimated]. I refused to pay the bill because the meter was broken, and eventually they cancelled the bill after seeing the photograph. When the 2nd bill was cancelled they put in a complaint on my behalf and last February an electrician turned up to replace the meter. He refused to do so because the main fuse was dangerous. UK Power Networks turned up the next day, said the fuse was fine, but agreed to replace it, so EDF can fit a new meter. The next UK Power Networks appt is on April 12th. After which, EDF can replace the meter. In the meantime the government have given me £600 [including a £200 allowance for oil use] which has been sitting as a credit on my EDF account. This week EDF issued another estimated bill and took £500.45 of the credit. The meter is still blank and has not been replaced. So I got on to EDF and they cancelled the bill and gave me back the credit. Overnight, they issued me with a new bill, so I had it cancelled again... and this has happened everyday last week. They still have taken my credit. I assume I can't be charged if the meter doesn't work, and when the new meter is eventually fitted, I will be charged from that date going forward. At which point I should have £600 plus future government payments as credit on my account. Am I correct? Does anyone have advice? Thank you.

Nice tip, thank you!

Can anyone demonstrate what the phrase "comparable size" means in planning law, please? Can a replacement dwelling be comparable to: The existing dwelling The existing dwelling plus permitted development rights Other dwellings in the vicinity Something else I've not thought of?

More than wisdom... entertainment too!

Thank you. You're right, not at all... which is one of the issues. The other is height.

Thank you! Yes, hidden guttering. The proposed cladding does not mirror the local cladding style at all.

@IanR - it's like this: 17m x 9, plus single storey 5m x 5m. Ridge height 8.8m.

Our problem is the existing dwelling is sited at the highest point of the plot [nice views], and has a ridge height of 5.9 metres. Our design has a ridge height of 8.8 metres. A solution is to make the design flat roof [as the dormers do on the existing house]. We have negotiated moving the proposed new dwelling to a lower point [effectively at the planner's suggestion]. This reduces the height by a further 3 metres and is a silver lining for us. This would be as if we're picking up the existing box house and moving it off the top of the hill, so it is hidden from view. Our debate is now whether to follow the local venacular which is brick\clay tile, or stick our guns. We want a contemporary barn style, but I think we are going to have to reduce the mass by the use of three cladding materials [brick, timber, zinc]. Whoever heard of a flat roof barn? This thread has been very useful.

@SteamyTea 's comment [on Sunday] on this thread was a revelation to me. I made a new approach to the planning officer and now have a less muddled understanding of their vision for my site. @IanR was also on the money - local vernacular is the priority when replacing dwellings. All advice gratefully received. Thank you.

I have not read that thread. Thank you for point it out, and I'll read it later on.

Fair point. I have made an assumption about the planning dept., and energy efficiency.

This sounds like the planning officer had the job of upholding a policy they didn't necessarily believe in, so what you planned wasn't so bad, but it didn't conform to the strict interpretation of policy. Is this a reasonable interpretation? I met our planning officer on site last Friday. The debate was all about policy, not about what works. If I've understood you, this gives me hope! Thank you.

Thank you so much for this. It's a big help.

They have declared a climate emergency. Is that enough??

There's a 1/2 acre garden plot in the middle of 14 acres and an existing 1950's suburban chalet bungalow therein. To me, it's all the same, as the garden and the pasture are exactly the same.

I'm struggling with my planning officer. I've presented a contemporary barn design in my planning application, which is to be set in pastureland. It's a two storey rectangular form. I have chosen this design because it's a rural setting and the rectangular box is the most efficient in terms of energy efficiency / cold bridging and so on, and it allows me to go for optimum orientation. The planning officer says the design does not reflect the local traditional build forms, which are inevitably more complex and comparatively thermally inefficient. Can anyone point me to a simple text which explains how the rectangular build form is the most efficient form, so I can crib off it to the planning officer? I'd like to be able to reference something to add authority to my application. Thank you.

I bought a house with knotweed at the back of the garden. The builder declared it. There was a knotweed warranty so I spoke to the knotweed company who had removed a large stand six years earlier, and was told if ever a property comes up with knotweed, it's going to be a bargain. So we made a lower offer that was rejected. A year later the builder came back and accepted our offer. We did find some regrowth which we dug out. I feel the guy from the knotweed company did us a favour. Based on the article in last week's press, I'd just tick the yes box, to remove the anxiety of not knowing. I'm not sure if "don't know" is good enough to avoid misrepresentation.

Those houseplants trapped behind the curtains will create the condensation on the inside of that window.

Is there an answer to @haddock's question? Is .3 an hour any good? I tested two bedroom's last night. The temperature dropped from 18.8c to 16.0c over 8 hours with no heat input. I suspect rooms on the north side of the house would have dropped by more. Our house is made of playdoh and yet has a tested air permeability of 3.3 @ 50pascals or whatever. The comparisons are interesting, but is .3 an hour okay?

Nice, thank you for the information.

https://www.westminsteroutdoorliving.com/Catalogue/Parasols-Pergolas/Pergolas-Accessories We have these, with open/close roof, sun blinds around the sides and they have a clever drain system to get the rain water from the roof and down the legs. We like them. Kept us very cool last summer. We position next to our living room/family room windows, so the sun doesn't shine into the house directly with the roof slats closed. Highly recommended. You can plant round them for birds, or grow plants up the legs... not across the roof though.

Is that why your name is Joe90 ?

My house was built in 2016. I want to get hold of copies original submitted building control drawings. Does anyone know how I can do this, please?

It's about having the work done and presenting an actual paid invoice to the Court [I think].