Papillon

Really nice!!! a few spaces that are a bit large for me but nice features. plenty room in the plant room for some batteries, if not for the ASHP, then for the solar panels? next step would be finding a builder you trust and has availability. the windows and balcony will make the design, so keep an eye on the spec/cost for those!

What does your new house and site look like? That might help. Did you use a designer?

There are actually lots of plots in Lancashire on plot finder for £100k mark. There’s one in Bacup that already has planning permission. What are you looking for exactly.

yes true, was just looking at an example plot really. The cheapest one now is £150k.

This might be built by now, but look in to custom build sites too; https://www.lep.co.uk/news/politics/design-your-own-house-option-on-new-preston-estate-3483233 these look to have affordable options. There was a similar, larger, development near Bicester called Graven Hill. Plots were around say £125k for the land, but it was serviced. Maybe up north the land would be cheaper? If your spending £1500 per m2, then you’re going to get about 116m2, so enough for a 2-3 bed. Maybe a larger one is doable, if you project manage yourselves (obviously!)… but it’s pretty tight. other ways to find land is look on Google for people with big gardens, and then post your details through their door. It’s cheeky but if you don’t ask you don’t get.

You can buy it for 449,000, or steal its ideas for nothing!

I forgot to add, the design with the arches and dormer windows is not very good from a design point of view. It doesn’t fit with the local style and it’s really ugly. from the place making guide you have to follow: Using existing onsite timber and stone, this award winning contemporary, sustainable home, has been designed with careful consideration to its context through form and finish. Built within budget ethos; this award winning building shows how appreciation for context and a subtle application of high quality building materials are two basic elements to get right for a well considered design solution whilst not having to cost the world. https://www.wowhaus.co.uk/2014/05/02/on-the-market-cedar-house-modernist-property-in-chapelhill-logiealmond-perthshire/

I mean, it’s not rocket surgery. Have you read it through? I do like it when a local authority makes these, even though they are all 1970s photocopies scanned on to their portal. They are at least an explanation as to why they think the way they do. If you want something that is against policy, you have to justify it. You need a designer who can design something in keeping, that’s not ugly, that can be justified and on budget. Please can you just get one.

I’m of the opinion most architects can design something ‘cool’, we all went through the same process at uni. I think you need to just ask the right questions and give them the right direction. I’m not in RIBA but I’ve done everything from grand designs to shepherd huts. I think you can get any design to work with Passivehouse, so I’d concentrate on a neat design and then use a system that gets you the levels you want. (I still think designed passivehouses are mostly ugly).

Have you had a look at the Hebhomes Longhouses? they are relatively barn style, and you can use them to see if the planners are up for it and if you can afford them. https://www.hebhomes.com/our-homes/layout/lh402p

Lots of fun and incredibly useful. I would get it professionally cleaned if I were you, never know what’s on those seats.

Were the planners ok with the height and footprint of the last one, would you just like a makeover on :

Barn style isn’t more expensive, no. Stone is more expensive than brick obviously. You could mix. When I do a barn, I concentrate on the detailing. Open eves, half hipped roof, stone on the main with a cladding extension, a nice feature brick pattern to break up the elevation. Barn windows are usually one big one (that used to be the barn door), big vaulted spaces, maybe a fireplace with some feature beams. I love an open gallery so you can really appreciate your space. I probably could not give you an example without knowing your area’s style and site shape.

Oh lol, I didn’t get there were stairs there, scrap that then! but I would have the wc/shower across the back wall, accessed through the utility room. You don’t need so many back doors anyway, and it’s more hygienic than off a kitchen.

Is that what you meant?

Hello, I wouldn’t have a WC off a kitchen! if the other room is a bedroom, wouldn’t you want to access the bathroom from the corridor? my other thoughts is the long corridor is not that necessary and wasted space. here are two options. One where the bathroom and shower is off the corridor, the other it’s off the utility. I’d need to see your elevations to know if the doors and windows can line up nicely.

Isn’t east Suffolk one of the better ones? Surely the higher the % within 8 weeks the better? might be reading it wrong let me know!

I hate to disagree, but Potton aren’t usually the main contractor, they are just the frame supplier/erector. You appoint a contractor for the main build.

I’ve done some designs for their customers and projects, but I know a bit so if anyone is interested can share! I think I prefer other frame providers in many ways though. Is it scotframe that has the modular design builder? I’d quite like one of those.

Oh that’s ok then, I misunderstood when you said they hadn’t updated ‘the designs’! They very much have updated their design service, some nice designs there.

That’s not true at all! They have a full architectural design and planning department who can do any bespoke design, of any style. You just need to fill in your brief requirements and work with the designers. They then will create the timber production drawings, and your building regs. They have also upped their specs to be comfortably above building regulations and can do passivehaus if you want. I’m not sure where you got your info from? It’s a little out of date I think.

I believe you are correct @Post and beam. It’s new in the last 6 months or so, so unfortunately @R2021 missed when they started doing this part. However, by ‘doing’ I just mean subcontract it out, so it’s not that different. Although by the sounds of it, @R2021 has suffered with the general U.K. price increase because of that, which sucks. I’d be surprised if it took the 6 months to do groundworks, but you did say it was complex and on a hill? Have they had actual delays other than the weather, what caused that it’s terrible.