Jilly

I’m guessing external insulation wouldn’t work?

I can’t delete these 😵‍💫

Maybe all the videos laboured the point …

I’m reading that: 1 You haven’t got surface water sorted yet on the new build, so need suggestions 2 The new house has been inadvertently build too close to the old house’s soakaway I had a similar issue and so we did as @ToughButterCup suggests and detailed a new solution using SuDS suggestions (butts, 3 ponds and swale) with the final pond as far away from the house as possible for good measure, all to to slow the water down. BC don’t seem to know much about SUDs but could see what we were doing was reasonable. Crates are another (expensive) option. You could divert the water from both houses into there if you don’t want to use the nearby soak away. HR Wallingford have tools for the calculations.

It’s not like you are pinching a neighbour‘s report.

There but for the Grace of God go all of us. Sleepless nights included. The forum has been invaluable for me. Try to visualise things going well. If nothing else, you’ll feel better. Other thoughts, could you reduce your plans, to have a smaller, more basic house to house your family and extend later? (You can’t claim the VAT back on that bit tho’, there’s always something…) Or if you are renting, move into a static on site to save money? Lots of advice about this on the forum.

OMG I can only imaging the stress of this. It’s very unfair, and not uniform across the country. Some councils don’t charge CIL at all. I think you have a case to try to claim against the architect’s personal indemnity (PI) insurance. It’s an unkind thing to do, but that’s a heck of a lot of money. If he uploaded the CIL1 form, he was aware that he was doing this on your behalf. Presumably he will not be allowed to admit liability but I have no doubt he will be making a phone call. As others have said, get legal advice and maybe close the site whilst you resolve the situation? Write to your MP, Angela Rayner and Radio 4 whilst you are at it. All the best.

What about coloured clay plaster? might be expensive but could be comparable to lime?

Definitely a good idea discussing things with neighbours and taking account of their comments. We actually had letters of support, which was nice.

As @saveasteading says. We have had just that happen when we specified a similar looking ‘pit’ in our garage (for mending my horse lorry) when the slab was done. It fills with water constantly, is a pita and a complete waste of money and has never been used. We are on clay, and yes, any hole fills up with water. Be very wary.

Usually they say on the pertaining ‘withdrawn’. It may depend on the LA whether they leave the paperwork readable and for how long.

Read ‘How a planner got planning’ on here, it’s very useful. I think you should have a sporting chance, especially since the increase in housing targets. It might be long haul, but you have nothing to lose as you own the site. Have you thought about a pre application meeting? People on here have had good and bad experiences with these.

Thanks for the update. It’s common for auctions to have a low guide price to generate interest. Either the buyer is unwary or has had positive advice perhaps. Lots of people have bought little strips of agricultural land which have no real hope of planning permission in the foreseeable future. One came on here and had to be put right on what to expect for a misleadingly sold £8k plot. I have seen some turned into allotments, odd ones with caravans etc. All off grid. It can help your resilience to distance yourself emotionally, so that you have a plan B for any purchase you make in case planning fails. I’m not sure of your reasons for wanting to self build, but it’s very stressful, and having cladding issues must have been difficult.

Were you there? I’ve found it helpful to be present at inspections as you can discuss the significance of findings and ask pertinent questions. SE charges can vary a lot.

@Alan Ambrose Do you think they might have been confusing the planning departments with parish councils? Or did they mean the whole system?

If you are not wedded to the house, if adding upstairs will only add £50k I would think seriously about moving as I can’t see how the changes you are proposing will be only £50k. Moving stress is less imo, than planning permission and building work with kids. Don’t forget estate agents are prone to overvaluing to get your business.

Sounds interesting

Ask @SteamyTea, you need a lot more insulation than you think for ufh to be efficient.

Why not get an architect to give you advice? Or go on one of those shows?

Hopefully no worse than the hairline cracks at the wall/ceiling where I visualise all the humid air might go 😂

Thank you. So it would be ok for wall/ceiling junctions? I’m thinking round the ceiling downlighters might benefit too

I’ve just discovered the possibility of airtight paint. The conversion we did didn’t do a brilliant job at air tightness, so can I redecorate with an airtight paint to improve things? Or have I misunderstood? Can anyone recommend a specific product?

I’ve just discovered the possibility of airtight paint. The conversion we did didn’t do a brilliant job at air tightness, so can I redecorate with an airtight paint to improve things? Or have I misunderstood? Can anyone recommend a specific product?

@G and J Get planting a hedge then?

It might help to break your question down into manageable chunks as people’s attention span is short until they are ‘hooked’ on your issue, as it were 🙃