Jilly

I'm currently converting a stable and definitely had to have foundation calculations to get through Building Control. Have you spoken a structural engineer yet?

It looks great, I quite liked the first footprint, but would have jigged the use of the rooms. If you change the footprint, you may have to resubmit for planning permission, but if you just change the internal layout, then its only Building Control you have to inform.

It looks amazing! Well done you ?

I've just got to the point where the superstructure and drains are nearly done and with a lot of advice from you guys, I'm changing to self PM and subbies. I don't quite qualify for rolling my sleeves up completely, but I'll do my best. I feel quite relaxed now and I will be able to control the budget and over think to my heart's content.

I've had a new entrance made in a conservation area and the considerations were as I understand it are on the ''visibility splay' as well as space to turn so that vehicles don't reverse into the road. They let me remove some scrub trees so long as I replace with native hedging. Are all your neighbours happy? One of mine was very anxious that our drives weren't directly opposite each other so people couldn't do a U turn. However, if highways have approved it already, the safety features should have already been considered. Can you ascertain what his genuine objections are and be ready to add as many mitigating safety features that you can? Stay calm. Do everything you can to seem accommodating and reasonable.

Hello. I had worries with this too. Strictly speaking, the planning application should say 'Creation of house and driveway' or some such, but it sometimes gets forgotten, but if you look through the paperwork the entrance is there. Look on the planning permission on line for the response from Highways: here should be a diagram indicating the new entrance and any attached conditions. This might also be mentioned on the Conditions. Dont forget to research utilities and you will probably want them to come through your new entrance. Builders quotes at this stage are difficult to get, search back through previous posts for lengthy discussion.

Hello and welcome.

I just went into the planning office and asked (pre Covid). Look out for the possibility of them changing policy in the (near) future.

There were one or two things queried during consideration of my Full Plans BC application and they liaised with my architect to come up with a 'pass with conditions'.

Have you read Freakonomics? Because on commission, estate agents are incentivised to pressure you into a sale ASAP as to wait will only give them a tiny drop in income. However, when estate agents sell their OWN houses they take on average 3 times longer to sell, because they are incentivised to wait with a far greater amount of money.

Design completed, planning approved, now getting ready to appoint people for build. Independent architect available, with capable architect assistant, did drawings etc, ready to supervise. Gut feeling is trust this architect & their trusted builders/master contractors, hope for the best. Just don't want to be over-naive, so open to any tips on how to get the best out of people without going bankrupt Welcome to that feeling...Engage good people is the best advice. Seems to be a mix of references and gut instinct. My research and discussions have taken £1000s in and out of the equation every week. It's tough. I read that Duncan Banatyne incentivised his builder (main contractor/PM) to look for cost cutting during the build by sharing the saving with him, compared to the 'as designed' costings. That was on commercial buildings, we self builders tend to be fussy types on, perhaps, our forever homes, so I guess a fugly cheap staircase, for example, wouldn't cut it. I don't really see how project managers paid on a % of the build can be anything other than disincentived to save money....I have friends whose self build went over by £100k because their builder was a really good salesman and it all happened before they quite realised. At some point you decide who to trust overall and jump in. The other way is to get the superstructure done by a main contractor then subcontract and PM the trades yourself.

What if plans were scaled back and so not fully completed to the consented plans. Would this mean that the planning permission is lost for the future of the bit that was left out or can it be taken up later?

Let me know when you find one ...

You've just sent me down a rabbit hole to look at this!

I know nothing about basements, so check that out properly!

Its why self builders live on site if they possibly can.

But to claim VAT back wouldn't you have to have 'started' officially, and all the above hassle? I just used a local farmer, so no VAT anyway.

It going to be fabulous! The stress will fade...

I find using my title Dr makes me an honorary man, so I use it as and when required, as it seems to work well for gentle emasculation. The method of taking your business elsewhere is just as effective. You don't need to be a man, but you do need balls ?

Not all councils have introduced the CIL charge yet, so if they haven't mentioned it you should be ok. I made mine put it in writing due to the scare stories on here about missing the deadline for claiming, as I wanted to make 100% certain I didn't owe it.

Looks great! Covid only seems to be affecting material supply, not labour. Your architect should go through this if you intend to keep them onboard. My first one seemed expensive, and I changed, but wished I hadn't as the second one didn't understand the project fully. If its detached, you don't need to worry about party wall agreements, that's only if you are doing something to a shared structural wall, as far as I know, unless you mean something to do with the basement? You need to have Building Control (BC) Drawings done by your architect's technician, called a Full Plans (FP) application (you submit the SE calculations with this), someone may correct me, but I think a Building Notice (BN) would be too risky for this size of project. FP takes a bit of time and during lockdown BC took 5 months to approve mine. You can even get construction drawings done too if you want more detailed instructions on build detail. (I think architects vary on how they do this?). Notifying BC, whatever method you are using, and making a start however, activates the planning and so you are ok to then take your time. Don't forget to read up about CIL and VAT You can search on here for various Insurance discussions and warranties.

Do you mean your area doesn't charge the CIL (yet) or that you are expecting to claim the self builder exemption. Make sure you follow process to the letter if the latter. Notwithstanding, if the neighbour knows about the trees and is the only person who might complain, then you are in a good place. You are going to need an entrance quite early. Maybe clarify with the council/highways if you can do this part?

If you have permission on the outline planning, surely it's ok? We are in a Conservation Area and gaps were shown where the new entrance and parking would be, so although it didn't expressly say 'trees to be removed' there was no other way it could happen. They were scrappy trees and no TPOs. We just got on with it. The last time I had a proper tree surgeon he was very keen to call the council before cutting anything to satisfy himself there was no problem, as he didn't want to be liable. Are the neighbours ok about the planning application?

OMG I hope they only destroyed their own property.