Robert Ashton

We've also gone to and spoken at a planning committee. Our application was initially refused by the planning manager, so had to get a councillor to 'call it in' so that it went to committee, and to make sure, we also invested in a barrister's written advice. On the day, we had two questions and unanimous support. Two committee members even walked over to shake my hand! My view is that the planning system is out of date and not fit for purpose. Planning officers have to f work with rules that are no longer relevant, and as @deancatherine09 found, neighbours who object for all the wrong reasons.

Yes @Temp, we will pay CGT on the increase in value and yes, we will be able to offset the cost of getting planning consent.

After a long struggle with planners, we were granted planning consent to build an off-grid ready earth sheltered eco-house in Norfolk, but our heads were turned by the opportunity to convert a barn in Suffolk so we're selling the Norfolk site, and busy with the Suffolk one. Our Suffolk barn is close to where we both grew up, and while the ec-home would have turned heads and probably featured on Grand Designs, we've decided that Suffolk is where we want to be. Our barn will have lots of solar panels, batteries, ASHP and EV charger and my motive for joining this group is to learn from the experience of others. We have a finite budget and don't want to spend money we don't have!