Bancroft

The whole CIL system seems to be a trap for the unwary, and something that doesn't tally with the name. If you're demolishing a 3-bedroom house and replacing it with another 3 bedroom house (as we are doing) , what additional 'infrastructure' do you need to pay for? And, did you know that when you add that bin store and bike shed (that the council requires), that is counted in any CIL calculations. Or that putting three sides to an open space area also counts? And getting the initial form in doesn't mean you're safe. You then need to make a new application if you have a Section 73 notice go through planning, ensure you fill out the Form 6 before you actually start, and also make sure you send another form at the end to tell them you've finished. Also check that merely putting a Section 73 in doesn't negate any earlier application you might have made - I had already made an application but only found out by accident that our additional Section 73 notice had triggered the CIL office to cancel our previous application (without informing us). And, it seems like this is one of the few areas of the planning system which is actually joined up with others. Getting ahead of the curve, I put in a demolition notice in anticipation of starting and immediately got a warning from the CIL office that any sort of demolition counts as commencement so where was our Form 6? Having finally got our Section 73 approved I then had to re-apply for everything and had a heart attack when the new liability came through asking for £18k with no relief. A quick phone call to the CIL officer and she apologised for not giving us relief saying '...that has never happened before...'. Despite all the negativity about our situation I have to be fair and say the CIL officer I'm dealing with has been good. She's the only person in the whole planning process who's actually taken the time to call me and talk to me about the process, answer the phone promptly whenever I've called, and actually been helpful.

You're going to hate it when you start talking to your Rolex dealer!🤣. Look carefully in any Rolex dealer window and there will be a little sign saying that none of the watches on display are for sale. Their general policy seems to be that they will only sell you a Rolex if you already own one. But how do you get the first one...?

Theory or practice...? It's all a bit complex but have a look at the following link and work through your personal scenario: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/determining-a-planning-application There is a 'planning guarantee'. (yea, right...) that states: The planning guarantee is the government’s policy that no application should spend more than a year with decision-makers, including any appeal. In practice this means that major planning applications should be decided in no more than 26 weeks and non-major applications within 16 weeks. Appeals should be determined within 26 weeks. The planning guarantee does not replace the statutory time limits for determining planning applications. So, work the figures and then, if necessary, start holding your planning department to account.

Some really useful information here, thank you. I did start to look at Loopcad but my brain just said no; I may need to go back and review because this seems like one of those things that the phrase 'If you want something doing properly, do it yourself' applies. I like the principle of paring back the number of loops and also the widening of centres to 300mm to reduce both the number of manifolds and also the amount of pipework. I'm not so worried about response time as I expect the system will essentially be on for winter and off for summer. More work needed from me but thanks for the direction and guidance.

General consensus seems to be to NOT put pipes under walls. Presumably that's in case pipes need maintenance/repair later but as they're in screed it seems a bit of a moot point. Also, if putting into screed (as opposed to slab foundation) most of the walls would most likely be in place by the time it comes around to laying out UFH pipework. I do agree, though, that doorways etc create tight runs which is one of the reasons why I was asking about multiple manifolds in order to spread the load.

Did you come to the 300mm centres through your own calculations or a plumber/UFH engineer? The design we have follows a more common (it appears) 150mm spacing.

Hi all, I'm looking for some feedback on an underfloor heating design. I had someone do a layout for UFH pipework for our single storey, 211sq m, new build and I’m looking for people with more experience than me to look it over to see if it makes sense. They have split the whole system into two manifold areas – manifold 1 one in the lobby to the shared bathroom, and manifold 2 in the pantry. They have then put more individual circuits (10 v 😎 on to manifold 2 which results in the guest bedroom (left hand end of the building) being on a different manifold to the other bedrooms. This also means a lot of pipework squeezing through the door to the pantry and, presumably, additional heating in the pantry area that would ideally be kept cooler. Ideally, we’d be looking at a maximum of two heating zones – the bedroom side of the house and the living side of the house. My thoughts/questions are: Twelve ports looks like the max size for a single manifold so we’re probably going to need two as a minimum. But, are there any advantages/disadvantages to going to three to relieve pipework runs/reduce pipe lengths? Would it not make more sense to put the bigger manifold in the bathroom lobby area, instead of the pantry? That would mean fewer pipes having to go out through the door to the hall as some circuits are within the central bedrooms and bathroom. It might also reduce overheating in the pantry. It would also mean that the A1/A2 circuits to the guest bedroom would then be on the same manifold as the other bedrooms. Finally, is there a height limit at which manifolds can be mounted? We’re going to have a warm loft and I’m just wondering if manifolds could be mounted In the loft – at about 3000mm above finished floor level – and still operate? Grateful for any feedback on the above or any other errors/omissions/improvements can you see from the layout.

Excellent marketing!

I'm still investigating this and haven't yet fitted so take read this with caution. Condensation drains? I think the basic answer is 'yes'. However, if thought about early enough in the planning process it shouldn't be too much of an issue. I'm planning on 4-5 fan coil heads in a single storey building and (on paper) it doesn't seem too torturous to find ways to locate the fan coil where drains will be easy to install. For example, we have two bedrooms with a bathroom in the middle - easy to mount the units on the bathroom/bedroom wall and take the drain through the wall into the bathroom plumbing. Ditto near the kitchen etc. Also, I think some units that can be ceiling mounted can pump condensate uphill to then flow down into the final drain. This means easier installation between floors or routing through loft spaces.

After going around this circle many times over the last year this is how I'm planning on solving the issue.

We have had a nightmare with the Conditions placed on us following approval of our planning application. So much so that I'm putting in a formal complaint about how/why they were imposed in the first place and how they have subsequently been staffed by the planning office. Too late for us now, but for anyone who is in the early stages of planning approval/discharging of Conditions, it might be worth acquainting yourself with the government guidelines on planning conditions starting with https://www.gov.uk/guidance/use-of-planning-conditions If going through this process again, the first thing I would do on being confronted with any Conditions from the planning department would be to go to that page and check each one against the six tests and other guidance shown. Armed with that information I would then go back and confront the planners. I have a strong feeling that most would crumble at the thought of being asked to explain their actions. That could save you a lot of time, money and frustration.

I think if we get to that stage, my wife will be putting me in the ground, not a spade!

Somewhat depressingly, Facebook has just sent me one of those "on this day..." memories in the hope that you'll share it again on the platform. It was this day last year that we finally got the letter saying we had been granted planning permission to build our new house. (That was after applying for planning permission the previous December but let's gloss over that...). Since then, the only physical proof we have to show as 'progress' are three lumps of earth in the garden where soil inspections were done. But, there is some good(ish) news: Only one of the thirteen conditions remains to be discharged The new architect is almost ready to submit the Section 73 notice to update/amend some changes made to the design. Hopefully, the planning department won't take another six months to approve those. I think this stage of 'building' your own home is one that is often glossed over but it does help to put into context why planners allow you three years from approval to commence the build... I've found it quite difficult to determine what I should be doing personally during this period, especially now that I'm essentially retired. When we initially got permission to build I went out at full speed and started talking to builders, organising site insurance, writing letters regarding CIL etc etc. But then the reality of discharging Conditions came in, along with a seemingly never-ending series of reports and inspections to be arranged and paid for. I took a pause, throttled back in preparation for the long haul, and put my frustrations to one side. And, although physical progress might have stuttered, I have been able to use places like this forum to increase my overall knowledge of some of the more obscure (but no less important) corners of self-building. I'm grateful to both this site and the individual contributors who have gone before and highlighted their experiences. So, onwards and (hopefully) upwards as we enter the second year of holding planning approval.

Is this a complete new build or are you just looking at re-hashing the internals of an existing building and are limited by the external wall size/shape? Is the garage an absolute necessity or can it be used as part of the re-design? Finally, I presume the garden is at the top of this drawing, next to the conservatory?

I'm certain I saw the ad as it appeared in the magazine month after month. But, I will acknowledge that my TB and GB might have got mixed up over time (memory not what it used to be - if you'll pardon the pun).