Lincolnshire Ian

We have been looking at tiles for our self-build. We want a grey, flat tile and have been looking at Marley Modern and Sandtoft Calderdale. One builder's merchant said these two suppliers can have availability issues and long lead times, so they suggested we look at the FP McCann "Thin Flat Tile." It looks like FP McCann has been making concrete products for decades but is relatively new to the tile market. Does anyone have any experience with this tile? It seems to be quite a bit cheaper than the Marley or Sandtoft alternatives. Thanks

Hiya I have been told by my structural engineer that his standard soil test depth is 3m but some warranty companies want deeper tests. Has anyone seen this. I can't see anything in the policy etc. Thanks

Hi We have a new build timber frame house 200sqm with posi joists. We are going to install an MVHR system. We have received quotes for MVHR systems from BPC and ADM for five different units, but similar ducting etc. The units they have suggested are: * Vent-Axia Plus B * Zehnder Q450 * Vent-Axia Sentinel Kinetic Plus * HRV4.25 Q Plus Eco * Comfo Air Q350 The quotes are all within several hundred pounds, except the Vent-Axia Plus B which is much cheaper, the actual unit seems to be around half the price, or less, of the others. Does anyone have any experience of the Vent-Axia Plus B system (it's being suggested by BPC)? Is it worth paying the extra for one of the other systems? What is your experience of BPC or ADM? Thanks

A few more notes about Biodiversity Net Gain and exemption. Whilst the BDNG applies to most new developments, there are some exemptions. BNG Exemptions Regs 2024 8(1) the biodiversity gain planning conditions does not apply in relation to planning permission for development which – (a) Consists of no more than 9 dwellings; (b) is carried out on a site which has an area no larger than 0.5 hectares; and (c) consists exclusively of dwellings which are self-build or are custom housebuilding. 8(2) in this regulation “self-build or custom housebuilding” has the sme meaning as in section 1(A1) of the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (a) Definition of Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 “ In this Act “self-build and custom housebuilding” means the building or completion by (a) individuals, (b) associations of individuals, or persons working with or for individuals or associations of individuals of houses to be occupied as homes by those individuals. When planning is granted the LA may ask you to enter in to a unilateral undertaking to the LA ( a promise made in a written agreement signed by you (with a witnessed signature i.e. a deed) . In the promise you confirm that you are doing the project as a self build. The LA may insert a requirement that you have to occupy the development. You may be able to negotiate that there should be no separate occupation requirement as the need to occupy is already included in your part of the promise the build a self -build home which meets the definition of the 2015 Act. If the LA insist on a separate occupation clause, you may want to offer 12 months post practical completion. This coincides with your VAT reclaim period in any event. Some LAs may try and insist on a three year occupation period. With it being a relatively new regulation, there is still a lot of confusion going on in the LAs. The requirement for a 3 year occupation (usually associated with a Community Infrastructure Levy exemption) does not come into it when dealing with biodiversity net gain exemptions.

We live in South Holland, which is in a neighbouring "three district" blended area. Planning has been a 18 week nightmare with BNG exemption being the final hurdle. We signed a Unilateral Undertaking (contract with the council) to agree to living in the house for at least 12 months. The LA solicitors are swimming in the dark with this as its new so it's worth pushing back on suggestions that seem a bit mad.

The difference is that with CIL the mechanism to break the agreement is written into legislation, but it isn't for BNG.

We are going through the final (painful) struggles to get planning permission for a demolition and self-build project. We are exempt from biodiversity net gain requirements because we are self-builders, we are recognised as such by the LA so all should be good. EXCEPT we have received a Unilateral Understanding (contract) from the LA in relation to the BNG exception for us to sign, which includes a requirement for us to live in the house for 3 years after completion. Now, we hope to be living in this house we have sweating blood over for decades, never mind three years, but there isn't a way to discharge this liability in the contract if we are obliged to sell (what if we die, and my daughter wants to sell my house, or I die and my wife wants to downsize). We have challenged this with the LA solicitor, but after a bit of googling it seems that this as this is new, and happens so infrequently that the LA solicitors are having to make up the rules as they go along! Has anyone else come across this, or has a strategy that could work with convincing the LA solicitor to relax a little! Thanks

We are looking at a solar PV and battery setup on our new build. We are getting quotes and noticing that some installers are MCS certified for panels and batteries and some just panels. We always have one eye on selling a house before we build or buy it and I was wondering if anyone had run up against a problem with selling a house without a MCS certificate for the storage battery. Thanks

We are building a replacement dwelling in the "open countryside" (planners phrasiology). The planning approval includes removal of permitted development rights to erect sheds etc. Could this restrict our ability to erect a welfare cabin (shed) and provide a portaloo?

We are building a replacement dwelling in "the open countryside" - outside the local development plan area. The stumbling block we came up against is that the house we build needs to be of "high architectural standard". We started the process of submitting designs that fitted in with the local street scene - brick outer skin to fit in with the typical vernacular. The planners said this wasn't of "high architectural standard" although weren't able to offer us any guidelines, meetings or anything really - they just wanted to see revised plan. The plan they have approved is a small brick plinth, and a mix of render and cladding for the walls with Alu-clad windows, tiled roof with built in PV panels. They have approved this, but we need to wait until the planner returns from holiday to hear what changes are needed to the front elevation. For context we are demolishing a derelict 1960's prefab bungalow!

We have been ploughing through planning for 5 months, narrowly avoiding a refusal (saved by the Planning Committee Panel) and we heard yesterday that the plans were being approved under delegated powers, BUT with a condition for an amendment to the front elevation. Our Planning Officer is on holiday and we got this feedback from one of his colleagues, but they want us to wait until our Planning Officer returns for a full explanation. I am assuming that the change they are looking for will be something we can live with like the ratio of render to cladding, design of front porch etc, but we have no idea. Am I right to think that if they are approving the application the changes can't be big structural stuff like changing the roof design? We have been waiting so long for planning, and it looks like we need to wait even longer. Has anyone encountered this sort of scenario before and what sort of changes could we be informed about when the Planner returns from his holiday. Thanks

We are looking for stone chippings to tart up the felt roof on our existing house rather than the new build. We were hoping that a few 25kg bags of chippings spread over the roof would make it less likely for the surveyor on our existing house sale to say we need a new flat roof (a common thing I have found if the roof looks a bit tired, even when it doesn't leak).

Hi Just wanted to share quotes with the community to help with benchmarking for other people's projects + ask if we are missing anything . We are building a two-storey house, around £200sqm floor space in rural Lincolnshire. We have quotes from 9 different companies. We've found that several companies offer PPC/Architects Certificates rather than an insurance-backed warranty, and some warranty companies simply provide quotes from companies for which you could go directly. So, we have narrowed our search down to two: Protek - total cost £3018 - 4 inspections Self Build Zone - total cost £2632 - 5 inspections The difference in quote price isn't a consideration. We are looking for the best service, a company that is simple to deal with, few hidden pitfalls etc. I have read on here that Protek have a clause that puts the insurance liability onto the main contractor for the first two years of the 10 year warranty, but I can't find this clause in the massive bundle on insurance docs we have been sent. We won't have a main contractor, we will manage the build with subcontractors. Does anyone have any experience of these two companies? Thanks

Hi folks Hopefully this will be an easy one for someone. Does anyone know where I can buy 6mm granite chippings (the little stones that go on flat roofs)? TIA

We don't live on site, so I am afraid I don't have a picture. The windows are externally glazed and seem to be stuck into the frames with double sided foam tape.

We are getting close to the demolition of our 1960's prefab and thought we would do some preparation before the demo team arrives. We would like to remove the sealed units from the ancient upvc windows to reduce the broken glass on site during demolition. We can pop out the beading that holds in the double glazing, but the sealed units seem to be stuck in to the frames. We have been able to remove a window, but it has been a very slow business prizing it away from the glue/tape. Does anyone have any tips for removing old sealed units that are stuck in to the frames? Thanks

Our battles with planning continue. To meet their requirement of a replacement dwelling in the open countryside that should be of "High Architectural Standard" we have ultimately conceded to have a render and clad house rather than brick skin. We are running out of fight and are reluctantly happy with this compromise. Having swapped from brick we now have a decision to make regarding what height we should start the render and whether we should have a plinth. Talking to the Planning Department is hopeless they aren't prepared to give us any guidance regarding what may or may not be approved (they just want to look at drawings as and when they are submitted) and our architectural technician isn't local which probably doesn't help either. Are there any pros and cons to render height (we are a bit worried about it getting damaged during the build process) and if anyone has a photos that would be brilliant. Thanks

Hiya I was just wondering if anyone had read/heard anything about how Labour's new planning strategy could potentially affect self-builders. For example, I have a 1/3-acre plot with outline planning permission, but it's outside the Local Plan Settlement boundary, so I can only build a replacement home, although there is probably room for two or three houses. Thanks

Hi We have submitted a full planning application to demolish and build a replacement dwelling. As we are getting planning permission that includes permission to demolish do we also need a Section 80 notice? Thanks

The blurb talks about swifts being very clean birds with no requirement for cleaning. Apparently, the adult birds poo away from the nest and even eat the chick's poo to keep things nice and clean!

Hi Our planners are keen for new builds to incorporate swift boxes. I researched this a little and realised that Wienerberger not only makes integrated swift boxes but also boxes for other bird species, bees, and insects. We have a two-storey, north-facing gable end that seems to fit the bill for the swift boxes, but I was wondering if anyone else had fitted other habitat integral bricks. We want to avoid bat boxes so that we aren't involved in all the protected species stuff. Any shared experiences/advice would be great. Thanks

Thank you everyone. If our application goes to the Planning Committee (not guaranteed at this point), we will need to consider our next steps carefully. Thanks for your help, it really is appreciated.

Hi everyone Thanks for your feedback. We have seen the Probity document and he has a "predetermined" view of what house design should be on the plot. He actually said during a Parish Council Meeting, "I believe that the replacement dwelling should be a bungalow and no-one will change my mind". This should be enough for him to be excluded from the Planning Committee decision making process, but I guess that he is too self-assured to realise this and I may need to write to the committee chairman.

Hi We are applying for planning, and we have received an objection from a parish councillor who is also a member of the district planning committee. I understand that this councillor should now remove themselves from the planning decision-making process. Does anyone know if there are any guidance notes/codes of practice that would prevent a councillor who serves on the district planning committee from publishing an objection on a freely accessible planning portal? Thanks

Hi @Conor Was that full planning or outline planning. We already have outline, waiting for the full planning approval. Thanks