kandgmitchell

Presumably you have a "build over agreement" for that sewer? That will dictate the construction arrangements required. If you do divert then don't forget you are increasing the length of drain between two fixed points and thus the gradient must be lower - perhaps too low. You will need access at each of those bends, both of which seem to be in the neighbour's garden - are they ok with that? You will also need to check with the sewerage provider with respect to diversion.

The permitted development criteria are different for business premises. One of the criteria is that any PD extension should not be within 2m of a boundary. At 50cm it obviously is, so cannot be PD with all other things being equal. If this extension will have an impact on you then by all means contact both planning enforcement and BC.

But it will though - it's the original front wall that is the baseline not the porch. Plus think the footprint thing through a little - why stop at one extra storey why not three or four; it's the same footprint. Planning doesn't work quite that simply I'm afraid. If only!

It's not an architect you need for outline it's a planning consultant. The drawing work is minimal but the "planning" bit even for outline these days can be a trial. Check out the Council's local requirements for registering various types of applications. Even an outline may require a flood risk assessment, a sequential and exception test if in the wrong flood zone, ecology assessments, etc. I've tried the arguement that it's only the principle being considered at this stage only to be knocked back with; the principle cannot be assessed without xyz.....

On the front i.e the principal elevation? It certainly will require planning permission. If the existing house door is still in place then that porch could have been built without regard to building regulations (save the safety of glazing requirements). It may then have little more than a simple concrete slab as a foundation. It could end up easier to take down and start again, only a trial hole would tell.

Many thanks Nod

Ditto, what do you want the insurance to do? If the current structure is robust and unlikely to be destroyed by fire, lightning or vandals then why insure it as yet? If there is a chance that persons will injure themselves on site and blame you then that is the risk you need to cover from day one. Then as the work starts and you need to insure against losing the work you have added, a policy becomes more important but you have time to search. We used Protek but also we had Titan Insurance quote - they have humans!

But it's the Valuation Office that decides the Council Tax banding and informs the Council what and when to start charging. I found them more pragmatic and (when you can get hold of them) helpful. We had a renovation project taken off the Council Tax list by them as it was patently unlivable in. Until the VO have been how can they assess the band? When they do inspect they will see it is still underway and that should fend the Council off for a while. Keep up the fight!

Right, another interior finishes question. Quotes for laying 65m2 of floor tiles include for decoupling mat. However, since the kit supplier's tilers are doing the bathrooms/wc as part of the package, I asked what they use and found they do not use them. Given the house supplier gives a 20 year guarantee and they obviously do loads of these, I'm inclined to go along with that. They use a quick drying Tekcem Rapido Witt cement with sand. See attached pdf. They will heat the screed up to 55 degrees gradually with a piece of kit that's programmed to step it up day on day. Anyone use this stuff? Comments? TEKCEM-RapidoWITT.pdf

We had our plot surveyed - about 1/3rd acre. It has a stream as one boundary, lots of trees and an odd shape being ex. agricultural. We had them plot the boundaries that been agreed with the land owner, provide levels on a 5m grid and put the contours on as the plot slopes. mark all trees etc and locate and give us the ridge and eaves height of the adjacent house for planning purposes. It cost us £340 plus vat last year. You would get it a bit cheaper for a simple boundary and building location survey (given they have to cover site attendance and kit procurement across all jobs).

I'd be going rigid board as it gives more insulation for a given thickness. Another thought is the foil type insulation such as Actis. Personally, I'd send your picture which illustrates exactly the situation, to the company's technical department and let them suggest a solution.

THought I recognised the shape of the building on that proposed blockplan - so it was a cattery that needs demolishing. There was no answer to the question posed on that thread "where did all the cat shit go"? Just another poo question to consider.

Absolutely agree with that. If you are tight for time then work with what you've got in hand and deal with the other stuff later. As pointed out you can use the renewable energy PD in the future.

As a self builder haven't you been told to get the professionals in when your skill set isn't enough.....

So is the barn already converted and lived in or is it prospective conversion waiting to be be done by you?