Bournbrook

Can I ask a technical question regarding battons that cladding is fixed to externally. What difference is there using 25mm vs 50mm? Does it make a big difference to u value? I know for using a brick skin a 50mm is needed, but we are trying to minimise wall thickness so ideally use a 25mm with an insulated board and brick slips. Would save an inch!

Hi Sarah. We got planning a couple of weeks ago for a self build in Hampshire! Do drop me a message. We are currently deciding between TF/SIPs and have found a good local builder. Going to the Build It Show on Saturday to hopefully get some questions answered!

Hi there. Just got planning for a new build in our backland plot and have decided to use SIPs. We have vaulted ceilings and would like to minimise wall thickness as it’s a very tight plot, so every mm counts! I have spoken to a few companies and many offer the usual Kingspan 142 or 172 thickness but the 142 seems to require extra insulation to meet even building regs u values. We have come across other panels that have different thicknesses and claim to have a better u value to thickness rating. Essentially my question is, does anyone know what the best SIPs panels are for thickness vs u value? We’d like to achieve around 0.15/0.16 for walls and plan to have triple glazing. I know I may be oversimplifying this, but any guidance appreciated!

Very useful to know. dod you ever receive any information about what comments were made at that meeting??

Oh yes. And have already sent the case officer a lengthy document disproving their claims. But I worry new ones will be made we can’t refute as we won’t know what they are!

Teachers. Not possible unfortunately!!

Our application! And we tried to dictate the time so we could join but their preference of time was taken. It means we are unable to join meeting due to work commitments.

Hi there we are planning a new build in our back garden. Currently waiting on planning decision and case officer has just informed us he is visiting site. He has said he doesn’t need us to be in for site visit as can gain access via an unlocked gate. However, he has also informed us he is meeting on the same day with a group of neighbours in a single meeting. This is significantly after the consultation (and due decision) date and I am obviously worried they now have his ear yet we don’t get any opportunity to meet him, know what they’ve said or have any chance to reply to any additional comments. This seems wrong to me when every other part of the process seems so prescriptive. I’ve searched and searched but can’t find any guidance document from my LPA that is relevant to guide me on what the correct procedure should be. can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks for all these i think we probably only need one sofa in reception (a sofa bed to also be a guest room). We will definitely want a tv in that room too. I had thought about a nice couple of armchairs by the kitchen. I like the idea of being right by the kids watching tv when I’m cooking so it feels like we are all together. I had also thought about only having 4 chairs around dining table for most of the time and have a couple of fold away ones in a cupboard for when we need them just too add a little more room and make it feel less cluttered

Good idea but unfortunately the return is due to a RPA so absolutely no wiggle room!!

Thanks for this. Is this better than floorplanner.com?

The shape is very much dictated by the tiny plot. It works around car turning areas, RPAs and overshadowing etc. I know it looks a bit odd, but a more standard shape just wasn’t an option!! utility room near front door was because we’d like it act as coat storage/small bootroom area. I love the beach idea!!

Hi everyone. We are currently going through the planning process for a 2 storey new build in our current garden. I am now starting to think this could actually be a reality and looking into the finer details and beginning to worry. We have an open plan kitchen/living area at the rear of the house with a reception room attached with pocket doors so the area can be closed off for kids tv room/guest bedroom if needed. I am concerned that the sofa area near the kitchen is a bit too small and the whole area may feel a bit too cramped. I also feel that the walls that the pocket doors at the entrance to reception room may make the space feel too small and perhaps internal bifolds would work better? However, if these were taken out then where would we put the tv?? essentially I feel like this space could work a bit better. We are now through the consultation process with planning and don’t want to make any material changes, but would appreciate people’s input on internal configuration of that area and suggestions of furniture placement. I’m keen to have a sofa near to the kitchen area. thanks!

No. As we are only in the buffer zone of an SPA but we added one in after validation just to avoid potential risk delays if they asked for one

Inundated is a little strong. I had made several calls as I couldn’t get through and wanted to check with somebody that our application was being dealt with since that officer’s name had not been allocated to any other cases since. The architect was emailing to try to 1) add an ecology report to the application 2) talk about arranging the site visit 3) follow up a week later as there was no repsonse to either of the first 2 emails

Thanks all. Looks like we could be in it for the long haul! It does say that about 80% of non-major developments are decided with 8 weeks on the document @Alan Ambrosementioned for my LPA. we are still waiting on consultee responses form ecology and tree person. Does anyone know if their comments are still uploaded online if the case officer is away? Does the case officer have to physically approve them before them being publicly visible?

Hi there Planning for a self build was validated on 4th December and in that time my architect and I have sent several emails to the assigned case officer and made lots of unanswered phone calls. Today, I eventually got through to someone that told me the officer has been off, but couldnt tell me how long for. I noticed that this officer has not had any cases assigned to them or made any decisions since early December. Can anyone tell me if there’s anything I can feasibly do in this situation? Is there a way of requesting another case officer? It would be particularly useful to hear from some one who has done this or has worked in planning, but any input very welcome!

Thank you. My gut says it won’t be an issue as it does seem unreasonable but I just wondered what people thought on here and if there was any sort of measurement for gardens (like there is the 25 degree rule for actual houses). fingers crossed…..

Hi there. I totally agree and we approached them months ago and showed them the plans. Interestingly they never mentioned this as an issue and have only done so as a formal objection. Looking on Google Earth their seating area is about 20m away from the double storey aspect of our build (the lower parts won’t be any different as there is a 3m hedge.) I really don’t feel that the area the actual area they use with be affected but a small area of the patio will. Worth noting their patio is huge and takes up the full width of their 25m wide garden.

Not any more I don’t think. I think the free reapplication got removed when the fees went up on early December. Annoying.

Thank you for reply. I used the 25 degree rule with another neighbour who was complaining. Turned out angle was only 12 degrees so that objection won’t stand. I just could t find anything about gardens. It falls under ‘amenity of neighbouring properties’ rather than specifically overshadowing, but I just wasn’t sure if there was some kind of objective measure or it was just case by case. Also just not sure what sort of tolerance level there is!

Thanks all. The neighbours have already brought it up. It’s a very small proportion of their garden but it happens to be right where their seating area is (but far away from the house). I’m just trying to work out how reasonable this is as a complaint as I can’t see any solid guidance on it. The context is that we are in a large village centre so I do feel as though it’s unreasonable to expect no overshadowing at all

Hi there. Going through planning for a small new build in our current back garden. There will be a small amount of overshadowing to our neighbours’ garden, but it is a huge garden. Does anyone know how Lisa of amenity is measured or considered in terms of overshadowing of gardens. It would only be in winter months

That does seems crazy. I was trawling through MfS and MfS2 today and I’m sure I read something regarding one way streets in there…. I was sort of planning to do what you’ve suggested in terms of drawing splays but I didn’t know if I was pushing it a bit by taking it from the edge of the build out?? we have already removed the brick pillar to the top of the drawing which shifts the centre line to a more preferable place. Unfortunately a TPO prevents us from doing this any further! e

Yes, it is ‘free flow’. It comes from the technical guidance from the Highways Agency. I see what you mean regarding providing context rather than reducing ‘y’ distance. if it is picked up at planning, we will engage a highways consultant, but I just wondered what people thought of my argument of the buildout as a mitigating condition. It also just feels so random that some existing accessing onto classified roads are consulted on and some are not. Really frustrating for someone like me who spends time researching all of this, but can’t get a definitive answer.