Jilly

No one except planning enforcement will care about the correct measurements for the placement of footings, so it’s in your interests to measure if it bothers you that there might be a breach. Easier to sort out and more neighbourly than calling enforcement.

Not the current generation. They have £50k student loans at 6% and can’t buy a home.

Why give yourself the stress over a small amount of money in the greater scheme of things? If it really was a 2 day job and it’s been going on for months, he’s likely already well out of pocket. Is it possible he’s dyslexic or English is not his first language or some other reason, mean that what you wanted wasn’t understood? I often need drawings to understand what people mean, for example.

See my post on Wallingford running a course. The consultants running it might be able to help.

If anyone fancies learning about SuDS to design their own system: https://www.hrwallingford.com/training/courses/suds-standards-guidance-and-design-tools

Ooh how exciting! I’d love art gallery space. Not to put a downer on things but be wary when chopping into the place. A friend of mind had a similar ex GPs’ surgery building and as they cut into the first wall, an arc of powdery stuff went everywhere and they realised it was asbestos. It was an expensive palaver to manage.

Could you put ‘citizen’s signs’ up (I just made that up) eg ‘Dogs and children’ or similar, or lobby for one of those solar speed detectors that smiles at drivers doing the correct speed?

I have tenant text to say that both of their Carbon monoxide monitors are beeping. I’ve told them to turn the boiler off and open all the doors and windows. Do I need a plumber to attend? Is there a way to shut the gas off?

I love the white or off white and almost any wood combo.

And good photos

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