Jilly

I think I’ve missed something 😂

Another approach is to consider: Building Control sign off completion, (but design and planning conditions are not their remit) then council tax is triggered. After this, as I understand this you can make planning applications. So it won’t stop your progress as such. Enforcement from the planning dept are the people who could turn up to look, but usually only if a neighbour complains. But you are waiting for materials, so what can they do? It’s a bit of a game of chess. Can you find your own heritage advisor? Or look at other local planning applications for ideas?

Not very likely as more bats means more money for the ecologist. BTW you have double the number of bats we found on the hand strip of the building.

I might be mad suggesting this, but as you have pebbledash, might covering that with external wall insulation/render of some kind be an option? Pebbledash isn’t the most beautiful thing, and EWI doesn’t tend to cause interstitial condensation. The window and door frames would be another issue though.

Good grief, can you do something on your own land? Or get some money back if you share the dig with water and electric?

Have a read on the thread ‘How a Planner got Planning’, it’s got loads of good advice. In view of the new government’s plans to increase in housing stock, you might have more luck than the previous applicant.

They look a bit big to be rat droppings? But rats are most likely.

I would concur spend your money on other things before changing your windows if they are sound and think about some secondary glazing. I have new triple glazing in the mid price range with aluminium frames, and the frames are the weak point. Aluminium clad wood is the bees knees, but very expensive.

Gosh, that must be scary for you. There are two avenues you can pursue with your local council. Firstly the Planning Department: look for ‘planning enforcement’ who are the people who check the legality of the structure’s right to be built. The other department are Building Control, who it sounds like you have contacted. They are the people who check building work for structural integrity etc. The two departments don’t necessarily communicate, so it’s worth speaking to both. The distance from the boundary is something you might want to enquire about, as well as height of the structure. It might be possible to get advice/legal help from your building insurance. If you rent the property, let your landlord know, as they might have an avenue to help. Citizen’s Advice might be another possibility. It’s really good that you have photographic evidence, we can see quite clearly your problem. Always try to complain on breaches of planning law as it holds more weight. All the best.

That’s gorgeous, it looks like it’s been there forever.

Yes, because they will pee around the site and possibly worse, or may stomp off and not come back. I constructed a compost loo in a shed, which annoyed some of the lads, but was more hygienic than the previous stinky blue thing. It’s a H&S thing too. And what do you offer visitors?

I discovered belatedly that not all planning conditions have to be fully discharged, per se, just complied with. So could you record or film the conversation as evidence?

Completed, I answered retrospectively, so I hope that’s ok!

All building work throws curveballs, the presence of the manhole isn’t the builders fault.

Check with your SE too, that sounds heavy. i should think you would have to do a Non Material Amendment for planning