lakelandfolk

Sounds like a strong contender for us two old codgers. We want our heating and dhw systems to be auto matic, simple and reliable. We have access to gas and a proposed PV array of 7.8 kw. The house will be timber frame (close to passive house) 160m2 over 2 floors, with UFH . Perhaps a 10kw Sunamp + Combi Gas Boiler will do the job. Do Sunamp offer design help? We like the idea of an automatic control system that will select the most efficient use of energy between UFH,& DHW and Gas Boiler or Sunamp.

http://www.shippingcontainersuk.com/brands/expandarange.php How about one of these flat pack models or check out their range of bespoke containers

I agree, thanks guys

Hi, We are currently thinking of designing double height glazing to the front entrance hall, ( south facing ) probably about 2 - 2.5 metres wide to allow passive solar gain. Problem is that it will overlook our neighbours garden and we do not wish to start on the wrong foot as incomers. The ground floor should not be too much of an issue as it will be screened to some extent by the garage The upper section, stairs and landing will. Just wondering what the effect on solar gain would be if, to keep on side with our new neighbours, we were to offer to fit some type of obscure glass to the upper panels, or is that a bad idea when we are trying to get close to passive house standard

Thanks everyone. Dave, I must say the Conder ASP08 looks interesting, I like the fact that it has support legs which will make it easier to level the tank when installing. They also do a version with inbuilt effluent pump which is something we might well need.

HI Looks like we are having to go down the Bio Pure/ Vortex sewage system path for foul water disposal. Just wondering if a small PV panel with battery storage on the garage roof would be a viable way to power the 24/7 pump. ( there will be a full PV array on the house roof ) The pumps are rated at about 45 watts, so not a huge consumption but I don't like the idea of them running 24/7 through the winter months. I have seen small 100 watt PV systems aimed at mobile homes etc for a couple of hundred quid, but they are 12 volt or sometimes 24 volt. If we are not able to use a Bio Pure or similar ( still trying to overcome lack of gravity issues for the proposed outflow into a nearby ditch ) the alternative will then be a raw sewage pumped system with a pump around 1.2 kw switching on as and when required. So it will be either 45 watts 24/7 or 1.2 kw for short bursts per day.

Thanks everyone, I will make sketches of the various ideas, arrange site meetings with BC and County Highways and Let you know how I get on.

Hi Dave, I had to install a 600 litre sewage pumping unit myself when I built our existing house 19 years ago. We live in a dip so required an 8 m lift over 80 m into the public sewer and it has worked perfectly since day one, so not concerned on that issue. Strangely percolation test has not been done and that would be difficult at the moment as the plot has been allowed to be so overgrown that it is impossible to set foot into it. The land along the rear boundary is a market garden and we have already spoken to the owner who has said he would sell us an 5 metre strip to add to the rear boundary. I'm sure he would allow us to conduct a percolation test on his land which should be the same as the plot which was also a garden. The extra strip of land is unlikely to get permission to build on but perhaps we could use it to install a soak away system. Who is meant to do the percolation test? is that building control? I have seen a letter early on in the vendors planning application process from the Principal Engineer at West Lancs BC including the following "the surface water is shown discharging to a soak away to the northern corner of the plot. From my knowledge of the ground conditions in the immediate area, it may be unsuitable to use ground infiltration methods, unless percolation tests prove otherwise" As you suggest I will try to set up a meeting with BC on Monday and take details of possible options, as I see them, and also pursue the percolation test. We would prefer to make our final offer to buy with prior knowledge of the financial implications of the drainage situation By the way we will be making a new detailed application as the one approved is far too big, ours will be 3 bed 160m2 and what I would call " shoe box shape"

Hi, We are currently in negotiations to purchase a very nice plot but I am struggling to confirm that connection to the public drainage system is 1. viable and 2. even possible. SURFACE WATER. The plot has full planning permission and includes an approved scheme to take the surface water across a public highway and discharge it into a drain ditch approx 6 metres from the plot boundary. I have only eye balled the route but feel sure there is no where near sufficient fall for it to work by gravity, the pipe has to be 6oo mm below the road and I estimate the ditch to be about 400 mm deep. By the way,the planners had earlier refused an on site soak away system due to poor ground conditions. FOUL WATER. The nearest public sewer connection is 75 metres down the road but only 1.02 metres deep, the road looks flat and level to me, so again, gravity would not work. My thoughts so far are, Plan 1. Install an airobic treatment unit and pump both surface water and cleaned foul water across the road and discharged into the ditch. I assume we would need to install a 600 litre holding tank with pump after the treatment unit. Would we also need a permit from the Environment Agency for this set up? Plan 2. Install a holding tank with pump and pump the raw sewage via a 63 mm pipe to the sewer 75 m down the road and pump the surface water across the road into the ditch There are surface water kerb side drain gullies the full length of the road and one is situated adjacent to the plot entrance. Plan 3. Holding tank with pump and 63 mm connection to public sewer 75 m down the road as plan 2 and surface water connected to the road surface water drains. I am trying to get Highways to meet me on site to investigate that idea, but I fear they might refuse. This issue has the potential to be a deal buster, all of the above ideas would come at a hefty cost or even worse there might be no solution possible to the problem. We could finish up buying ourselves a very expensive allotment if we are not careful at this stage. My head is spinning and not helped by having to deal with, Environment Agency, United Utilities, Lancashire Highways, West Lancs Borough Council. So far I have been unable to make contact with a suitable professional or contractor with the experience and expertise to guide me through this conundrum. Any help, advice, experiences would be much appreciated, (I need a good nights sleep)

Many thanks Temp, will do

Thanks, this is ENWL too and will be a new build on a site with no existing utilities, so will go back to them.

Hi, Just received a quotation for work required to provide an electricity supply to the plot, it will involve digging a trench across a public highway, and vat has been added to the basic cost of materials and labour. Should I challenge the vat element?

We are opting for a permanent masonry meter kiosk near front gate too and have been informed that we have to provide the earth. How is that best done?

Re Build - Lite Future Found passive foundations. I should have added that they offered to provide a full site insulating training day for our local ground works team..prices on application

Interesting stuff, I would like the option to have passive foundatrions then choice of TF company but would be nervous to engage a local contractor with no experience of passive foundations. Has anybody found a contractor, other than MBC, that can lay a passive slab? I have been quoted for the design and supply of the materials from Build - Lite in Rotherham for their Future Found system but they do not offer an installation service.

Just watched the mbc video of the timber frame erection. Will the vertical and horizontal timber clad steel beams installed into the external walls not be a serious cold bridge?

Hi Alex, Just watched your passive founds time laps, fantastic. Did MBC design the system? Did the MBC team undertake all of the foundation work?

Thanks for that info, I will put a Vailliant Ecotec Plus 612 on my short list.

Hi All, Hoping to get close to passivhaus standard with our proposed build but wondering if the flue from a small gas system boiler will compromise the air tightness. I know a balanced flu draws air in from the outside via the outer tube into the burning chamber but is that chamber sealed to prevent air being drawn from within the building?

Hi Peter, The strip would be about 5m x 28m (the full length of the plot). The land belongs to a commercial market gardener who grows his produce in massif greenhouses in the field behind the plot. The strip we are talking about is to the rear of one of the greenhouse gable ends and currently totally overgrown with scrub and used as a dumping area for prunings/grass cuttings and general produce from the market garden which is unfit to sell etc. Thanks Sensus, we will proceed on the basis of "subject to Planning" as you suggest.

We would probably want to install some raised beds to grow fruit & veg etc, and at some point even a potting shed or greenhouse so sounds like we better make an official application. The existing approved house design is not suitable for us, it's a large 4 bed detached, we are wanting to downsize, max 3 bed, so will need to make a new detailed planning application anyway. If we decide to purchase the extra land then we would show that along with the new house design on the application. We might even ask to move the footprint of the new house further back from the road ie about 3 metres onto the additional land. The existing plot on offer is about 18 metres deep which would increase to 23 metres with the extra strip. Would that cover the change of use?

New topic. Is planning required to use agricultural land as a domestic garden? Hi All, We have the opportunity to purchase a strip of agricultural land to add to the back of a building plot that has full planning permission. Would we need permission from the local Council to add this to the plot for use as a domestic garden??

That sounds like a plan, I will give it a go. Thanks every one, Ian

OK guys I get the message, off to the scrap yard it goes along with the old bits of brass fittings, copper pipe off cuts etc. found in those rarely visited corners of my garage. Ian

Just found almost a full reel of 6mm twin & earth in my garage, it is the old RED live & Black neg type. Can I still use this in our proposed new build??