simplepimple

They haven't indicated it won't get accepted - but to be sure is another thing altogether - however it doesn't look over anyone's garden - it's not the nice people next door who I bought the land from - it's the others opposite - & it did get refused on the first application. Nothing worse than thinking you've won .... but then you didn't. I feel better after my moan though. (and I've just been round and through my front door for the first time) It's in the region of £234 for the amendment - I usually find the quicker you pay it the faster the irritation goes. A bit like an itch. £234 would have bought quite a bit of nice laminate flooring though..... ?

The The architect omitted to add the window on the plans - although there is a small narrow box shape where the window is - I guess he forgot to enlarge it. So no window on the plans but a window on the house.

30 working days into the little build now. I've had some incognito battles with the neighbours many of whom had complained/objected to the initial planning applications. (there were two not undertaken by me) I understand other people having alternative viewpoints even though its more hassle for the council & me of course but such is life. I'm still so excited to eventually be moving into my own little place that it would take some doing to really annoy me. One of the outcomes from the complaints is that I have a first floor opaque window in my bathroom - which faces to the road & despite me mentioning this needed to be added to the plan when we submitted for reserved matters my original notso-good architect didn't add it. I guess it might be that he felt too many changes might risk it not going through altogether - or that because it was somewhat different to the outline plan the council might have said we needed a whole new application. Planning have said I can submit a variation planning application - with the associated fee of course. Best just to get on with that - or worth a small battle with my architect? What would you do? Secondly in all the hustle & bustle I forgot to take note of one of the conditions attached to reserved matters in connection with the driveways (mine & the host house who's garden I am in) namely: The submission of details of drainage as required by condition 4 needs to be submitted as a formal application/submission (to discharge the condition) with form and fee and you will need to confirm the precise details of the work. I guess they are allowed to continue to charge where they can - perhaps another case of getting my credit card out & cracking on with it. Maybe I just needed to come on here and moan a little. On a positive note though - windows are in and I have an actual real working door key. <sits back & smiles serenely in a manic fashion>

Thought I'd post an update along with grateful thanks to everyone who has given me advice particularly Ferdinand without whom I'd still be thinking small. (& a North facing garden instead of a South) ☀️☀️ Here we are some 20 days into the build ~ although I don't have a photo of the roof tiles on yet but I assure you they're on ~ along with the facia. Currently slightly delayed for the next week waiting for the brickies to return - we're up to window sill height so far. It's not looking so pretty right now but I'm already ? Not sure I'd be here if it wasn't for the support of the buildhub community. Thanks all.

Mr P - Ferdy & Pro D Thank you all for your invaluable input. Might it not be as big as we think though due to the shallow roof pitch? If I was building for profit (haha - these days!) I might consider creating two beds upstairs but it wouldn't have got through planning. (they were adamant that it would only have 2 beds & the perhaps the downstairs space probably wouldn't support what would be needed for a 3 bed) I totally agree with regard to the bath & store room - not sure why he did it like that - perhaps he loves lots of storage?! It's likely I will incorporate some of the store room into the bathroom and site the bath beneath the sloping ceiling. Window is looking more likely instead of the second set of doors in the lounge - I don't really want the window centred in the room as it won't allow me options of moving my sofa about. (So sorry Sensus!) I mean I love a bit of symmetry...... but ability to change the room around trumps it for me. There is no need for a door to be there but I did think that seeing more of the garden might make the lounge seem bigger - and also I love the sunshine.

I see & appreciate your OCD Sensus. ? I can be particular about some things and perhaps less so about others - though I would want both sets of french doors on the west side to be the same size - and not as the current plans show. Furniture placement is an issue as the living area is not huge but if I do have doors that gives me problems then with radiators - perhaps normal windows will be best. (and probably cheaper)

ProDave's is good & will look great with the balcony. The cupboards won't be on that side so I could consider a small window there - cupboards likely to be the other side possibly with a small area taken off to create a 'fireplace' in the lounge next door if I decide to have a log burner eventually. Can't do this now as cost is key. I've attached the elevations. Thank you so much for your responses - it really helps me sift through possibilities.

Ah tilt & turn - they would be ideal. I'll have a look at those - and I'm with you on just two doors if I go for doors on the bedroom. Thank you!

You've been such a help to me so far with my big dreams little house - these are my outline approved plans. We have a start date for Jan. Whoop whoop! BUT - I'm so confused about the external doors/windows for downstairs. I'd really appreciate some views apart from mine. For the ground floor bedroom I had planned to have a set of double doors - the architect has added in a middle window thinking I might need to have a window open and not a door but I'm not keen on that look at all & now wondering whether to convert the doors to a normal window. In the living area - I'm happy with all one space - the kitchen installed will not be L shaped but just along the back wall in one line. I'm wobbling with regard to the doors in there too. I didn't see the value of bi-folds but I did want to see as much of the garden as possible. I was hoping to achieve a nice look with having the doors on the south facing side (the bigger set) being as close to the other set of doors to gain sun from the west but also look a bit smart - but now I'm questioning my judgement & wondering if its all a bit too bonkers. Again I think there might be a need to open windows instead of doors due to the kitchen being in the same room. Any other ideas would be gratefully received. I've put the upstairs plan on too - at least I'm happy with the windows up there!

ok - thank you everyone for your view - I'll contact him - I'm keen to avoid needless delays.

I partially wondered if he'd been deliberately not quite what we wanted so that if the planners want something changed we can change it for them but get it right at the same time! Hmmmm.... more deliberation needed. ?

He's omitted a window upstairs but it looks onto the road - not into any garden and the velux windows are in the wrong place but they don't over look anyone either. Perhaps it's not so much a concern then....

Am I correct in thinking that the architect plans submitted to the planning department for reserved matters should really show the windows where I would like the windows to be - rather than just putting them in where he has. Obviously if there are building constraints then that's fine but when I tried to explain where I wanted them initially he told me it didn't matter yet. I'm concerned that it does matter. There's already been some long delays - not all due to him but the recent 24 day one was. He's also added an external wall to be clad in larch which hasn't been discussed or even mentioned. Perhaps I'm wrong [hopefully!] and I can just decide to relocate Velux windows and others once the planning has been approved but it all seems a bit odd to me.

Interesting concept @Simplysimon - thank you - that would certainly give more room upstairs - I quite like bed 1 on that side as it's east facing and will have french doors instead of a window - moving it would mean I could only have a window on the north side. I know of someone though who dropped the ground floor ceiling height a little - it didn't look as bad as first thought and that gave quite a bit more room upstairs too. [not that I'm suggesting that's going to happen here.] I've been measuring it all out in my head and on the floor of where I'm currently staying. My neighbours have said they are happy with it which is all positive so now it's a case of whether the planning dept will be concerned about it being in front of the building line of the properties going the other way. My architect tells me he'll be submitting the plans this week. Time to look for a cheap rental nearby as my previous plan of having a static isn't going to work. It's too small. ?

I'm liking the votes for the UPstairs washing machine which should fit nicely under the eaves. I've heard about the two dishwasher technique Jilly - very sensible - though I'll be happy with a slimline one - I've been without for so long - hand washing is pretty grim. ? Thanks everyone for your comments and views.

I guess it can be annoying opening more doors than you need to if you are merely accessing the garden. I'm staying in a place with a 4 door bi-fold and its annoying as you have to open two of them to get out although I understand this is not the case with them all. What I do like about them though is the sense of space they give to small rooms - and the sunshine of course!

Ok.. . thanks for that tip Christine... will do. ?

Thats a great idea PeterW - thank you. Not sure why he'd put a tank in there as I'll be having a combi boiler. I might put a bath along there instead and move the door. The other thing I've been considering which might impact on that is an UPstairs washing machine. ??

Thanks Moonshine - I'm not a fan of bi-folds so it's likely to be a set of french doors on the south side and a set on the west side hopefully near to the south west corner of the house. If I was loaded I'd have some sort of corner door/window super set but french doors are fine.

Those are my spaces - although I hesitate to mention that we agreed the sale of the land with the existing parking so with next doors adjacent to mine and we have agreed to do a land swap for the space at the front - where they currently park. This is why the garden is a bit zig-zaggy there - so that they can retain their parking spaces. I imagine I will still need to create their driveways as per existing approval - they've said I can access their mains drain temporarily too so there will be some digging there and I'm keen to maintain good relations with them. The architect has also shown their shed [which I also have to provide] on their driveway but I'd imagine they'll want that in their back garden.

He's definitely an architect - so hopefully the stairs will be ok. I guess he doesn't want to provide more guidance until I get back to him with my thoughts which I've not done yet - and I thought it wise to ask for additional views before we move on. I'll get my builder to have a look at it too - however he's the family member who sometimes tells me that it can't be done when what he really means is that he doesn't want to do it that way. Bless him. Thank goodness I have this forum to tell me otherwise - though of course I do want to keep it simple for him too. ? Parking - side by side would probably be fine as that was how it is on the current approved outline plan however for personal preference I'd like to maximise garden to the side where the bedroom is rather than parking - it's only me living there - so one car and another space for visitors so there shouldn't be issues with having to move to let anyone else out. I like the idea of being able to park close to my front door although I do appreciate its quite tight width wise and whilst I always prefer to reverse in that won't be best here as I'll probably have to park close to the garage next door to leave me enough room to get out. My poor passengers will have to get out before I park.

Thank you for that link Ferdinand - you were such a star!

Thank you for your thoughts. It's true that it does stick out a bit more than the other row of houses that run to the north of the site and might be refused on those grounds - the outline was approved in line with the western side house row - it was more forward and parking for both houses was at the back. There was a previous application similar to this one now which was refused but the planning officer has changed and it has been mentioned [though of course not guaranteed] that they prefer the previous application. I'm quite short Ferdinand however I'll take this on board and see what can be done. He's not put windows on as yet - bed 1 will have french doors, bed 2 will have a south facing window and a west facing velux. Upstairs bathroom will have a velux - I'm wondering about a dormer - cost is a consideration but then I'm planning to live here for a long time. Thank you moonshine for agreeing with my change of kitchen end - I'd also like to put in a log burner in the living area but siting it isn't simple. There'll be a velux on the east side where the stairs are to get the morning sun. Downstairs shower room might be able to incorporate the understairs space - it looks like there's a hallway cupboard there.

Hello again - I posted some time ago about my small build garden plot with the tricky parking and am pleased that my new neighbours and I have similar ideas with regard to parking. We're hoping the planners will be in agreement when we submit for full planning though my architect is suggesting I might have to submit a whole new application as this plan differs quite a bit from the outline plan which has been approved. I'm currently working with the architect and this is our first draft. North is where the front door is. I'd prefer the kitchen area to be the opposite end of the living area - so that it is adjacent to the bathroom and I'd like patio doors on the west side and smaller patio doors where he's put the current bifolds. Any glaring omissions I might be unaware of?

I'm making notes, growing ideas and waiting for the green light to go go go.... ?‍♀️ but of course - dreams are usually [and not always] realised one step at a time.