Jane W

Bringing back and older post as we're almost through planning and making decisions about wall make up. Brick outer skin. Wet plaster inside. Options are: 1. 175mm full fill dritherm (or other brand) 32 / 37 with medium density block inner leaf. 2. 150mm full fill dritherm 32 with lignacite blocks. 3. 150mm full fill dritherm 32 with fibolite blocks 4. 150mm full fill dritherm 32, medium density blocks and a lightweight plaster? Just trying to weigh up the pros and cons of each, and making sure they reach 0.18 u-value. Any thoughts would be gratefully received!

Our plot insurance does not cover demolition. I have now heard that it is often an add on or an extra and not typically included as standard. As we have had our plot for almost a year now we will be looking to change the insurance to make sure we're covered, so hoping to see how anyone else had negotiated it.

@ADLIan is this comparable to dritherm 32 or 37?

A bit of advice needed please! We have sent in a notice for Intended Demolition to building control to demolish a double garage and single garage on the plot. I've called them today and they said they haven't got it, but that's a different story. They said the contractor would need to complete the form and supply 'other necessary' paperwork. I said we were going to demolish the garages ourselves. She asked if the garages were under 50 cubic metres, and then said they won't be as that's only 1 single garage size. She said we would need to send in our insurance and employer's liability. We don't have any employees and we (and our adult son) were planning on doing the demolition to ground level, with contractors taking over to deal with the foundations as part of the groundwork. Anyone been in a similar situation and have any advice regarding insurance for the demolition and ensuring cover for family demolition members? Also the plot is at the rear of a house and before the purchase of the plot the sellers disconnected the electricity. Do I still need to have official confirmation that no electricity or gas is connected for demolition? We've had an asbestos survey which said there was none so thats one thing hopefullyticked off. Any advice regarding insurance or communications with building control would be very much appreciated, thanks.

I have read some threads about decentralised mvhr like fresh-r and bluMartin. Has anybody decided on this option for their 2 storey newbuild, or seriously considered it but then decided against it?

@hotnuts21 many years have passed...I wonder which system you chose in the end and why? We also have very little space to accommodate a mvhr but are keen on the method of ventilation. Oh... and are you happy with the decision in every way?

That's great, I'll get looking to see if our council has anything similar. Thanks very much for taking the time to reply, very useful!

Ahh OK, thank you. I will have a look at the Outline Approval when I get home to see if it is mentioned in that. It was mentioned in the Pre-app.

So the archaeological expert can't just say we propose an archaeological study brief in lieu of a desktop report? Which is what they're suggesting

Yes we do, it runs out In October though!

The pre application advice report says ' you should also include a desktop study of the archaeological impacts of the site'. I'm not sure what we're proposing, I asked the planning consultant what a study brief involved and he said it depends on the site, what the planners stipulate, and what they find, if anything, when it's taking place. We're just getting everything together to make a reserved matters application at the moment.

@Mr Punter The outline plan is as vague as is possible and shows a dormer bungalow with a footprint of about 6m x 6m to replace a much larger double garage and single garage that are on the plot at the moment. The porch has been replaced by a much, much smaller oak framed porch on the newly drawn plans, more in keeping with the character of the conservation area. I'll have a good read of that link, thank you!

Our pre-app says we will need a heritage report which includes an archaeological desktop study. We have been quoted by a company who have suggested we put in planning to include an archaeological study brief at the time of construction, as an alternative to the desktop report. The planning consultant says this may be a good idea as the planners may ask for a study brief or something similar in the conditions anyway. Has anyone got experience in this area, or have any thoughts....I don't want to fall at the first hurdle by not giving the planners the desktop study if they want one, and what if they didn't go on to ask for a study brief after all?

Yes, thank you @TempTemp, I think these are the block plans they had used. Much appreciated 🙏

@Great_scot_selfbuild thank you for taking the time to post such a detailed reply. That information is so helpful and explaining the process you went through is also very useful. Was yours done for an appeal or as supporting evidence in addition to your architects Design and Access Statement, just wondering as the planning consultant is doing ours, but also that you mentioned it didn't have to go to committee. I have also heard that some professionally written D&ASs are appalling and so I want to have a handle on what I think should be included and have one written for the planning consultant and architect to possibly refer to or use. Thanks again Jane