mjc55

Pretty similar I think @flanagaj. It is 2-3 years since I retired but I believe that they charged the same for Building Regs applications. Have a look on your local council BC web pages to see exact costs (which depend on what work you are doing)

Good question. Before I retired I worked for about 12 years as an Architectural Technologist in Wiltshire. All pretty small scale apart from a couple of bigger jobs and never a new-build. Always had a good relationship with the BC department at Wiltshire and had one particular officer that looked at my jobs. Now retired and doing a self-build in Dorset we were definitely going to use council BC. However, one conversation with the BC officer that dealt with our area really switched us off that idea. This was before we even had planning but I just wanted to touch base with them and ask a particular question. Well she was a tad difficult to deal with, did not stop talking for about half an hour and was very vocal in her views as to how things are done (which could be said is NOT their purpose - they are there to inspect not guide). We got a really bad feeling about this person and this was reinforced by other peoples stories of using council BC. So in the end we have gone with Spire, have had one meeting so far with him and seemed to really get on with him and he seemed to understand what we are trying to achieve. So the answer to your question I suppose is - it depends! Maybe try and get some views from others in your area about what they have done. Some would say that private BC tend to "phone it in" rather than visit so much, I don't know whether this is the case or not. Some people seem to be opposed to Council BC others opposed to private BC. YMMV and a bit of research will help a lot here.

Hmm @Gus Potter The Pod is indeed a raft foundation as it is relatively close to some trees. The house (currently) will be strip foundations.

Love to see a really clean and tidy site

Waiting for a quote, but in our situation doesn't seem massively more expensive. Of course this might change when we get the quote including delivery costs!

@Gus Potter How did you find the foam glass? Thinking of using it on our Pod (testbed for main house build). Quick calcs seem to indicate that costs are not too extreme and certainly easier to put in place. Would be interested in your experience of it.

I don't think that you have properly read my post. Its around £2k not £8k

I would actually argue that in least our case, that isn't the situation. We were initially quoted and paid over £8k to Southern Electric for our connection. Basically running down a nearby pole and under a 5 ish m lane into our plot. We did manage to reduce that (or be on a promise to reduce as we paid the £8k in January) when they agreed to share the works with water crossing the lane). However in the last couple of weeks the cost has gone sub £2k as SE have altered the way they cost new connections.

Really cracking on at a pace! Keep up the good work.

Ours is about to cost £5840. Road closure and cross over about 6m into garden. This is in North Dorset. Electric connection was over £8k quoted (and paid for). They are now using same trench as water and is now just under £2k!

it was part of the planning permission.

As long as the electrics are done by a suitably qualified person they don't require BR.

The method of construction isn’t up for debate here, the point of constructing it in this way (as I said in the first post) is to use the same construction materials and methods as the main house. I understand that to be exempt it shouldn’t contain sleeping accommodation - it doesn't, it's overall purpose is office/storage. We may (or may not!) sleep in it for a bit. Schedule 2/ class 6 of the BR states To my eye that means it doesn’t require BR approval.

Yes, I expect that and have no issue with it. We are going to be living there and want all the normal services.

This is my view to be honest. I know there is a chance that we could have some issues with the LA living there but am prepared to deal with that should it come up.

https://ecobrix.co.uk/

Understand that but we have lived for long periods (2 months) in our mobile home, which is significantly smaller. We are not naieve enough to think that it won't be an "interesting" experience though.

I mean ecobrix.

We are building a "Pod" on our site which eventually will become a home office and store. It is around 22 sq. m. internally and more than a metre from the boundary. Now we will be living in this whilst we build the main house and I would estimate that this will be 6 months or more of habitation. For my part I don't think it requires building regs approval but would like to hear others views on this. I have just received structural drawing from the SE and he has questioned the BR lack. Not that he thinks that it definitely needs it but that he is unsure. The reasons for doing this are twofold really I guess. It will save us rental costs while we build the house and we are using all the same techniques and materials (flat/green roof, single storey, Ecobrick construction) on the Pod as we will the house. This will allow us to a) test the ecobrick construction and b) reduce rental costs as we will be living on site. Any thoughts welcome.

Our kids have kids! I will let them worry about it.

Interesting, did they say why EPDM was unsuitable? We are going for a green roof and currently thinking EPDM underneath.

Fortunately do not require a mortgage. There is no plan to sell in the next ten years. i know plans can change but am prepared to cross that bridge in the unlikely event that it comes to pass. As far as a qualified professional overseeing it, I was an Architectural Technologist (or at least obtained an AT degree although never got round to becoming chartered)

This might be a daft question but I will ask anyway. We are about to commence a self-build. We will be doing the majority of the work ourselves apart from (possibly some groundworks (i.e. dig footings), flat roof covering (to get a guarantee), window installation (to get a guarantee & size/weight of some of the doors - 6.5m sliders) & electrics. Each of these would come with there own guarantees/warranty, any other build issues would be down to me as I would be doing it. So what would I gain from a warranty? Any issues a warranty provider would presumably come after me anyway as the "builder" so no point in insuring?

Hmmm. The gaps between the insulation leave a lot to be desired!

Yes, we will be the same re the silicone. Timber clad so we can do it.