Nicolas

Many thanks, to both of you. I'd looked at Richard Bendy's website, but it's encouraging to find someone who has used his services. The certification suggestion is certainly something to mull over.

Thanks for the reassurance marmic, that's very helpful. I do have a fairly good understanding of passivhaus principles and a familiarity with relevant build methods, so have been tempted to do the planning submission and PHPP myself - but there's the time factor, dealing with planners and fear of ending up with a home that doesn't perform as expected. How did you find a consultant, other than picking someone from the PHI directory? Feel free to message me. What was your build method? Did you have detailed design drawings?

Thanks, that's what I'm wondering, although it assumes that the design for planning permission is good enough to meet the PH requirements. I have been tempted to buy the PHPP to see how difficult it is to use. I'll ask a few timber frame companies - the websites I've looked at don't make it all that clear what they need from customers or what they provide in terms of design.

I have read quite a few discussions about architects' fees, but my question is specific to the cost of designing a Passive House. We're not too bothered about certification, but want the design confirmed via the PHPP. We are likely to use a timber frame from the likes of MBC, PYC Construction etc. Around 130-160m2, flat plot with existing services. I was about to contact an architectural practice, but noticed that they quote £8.5k to get to a planning submission, then £20k for working drawings. I assume that the latter includes Building Control drawings. All plus VAT. £20k seems excessive, especially as most (all?), of the section and junction details will have been used repeatedly on previous projects. Roughly how much has anyone paid for planning drawings and the associated application plus construction drawings for a Passive House? On a related note, do experienced timber frame companies even need detailed construction drawings?

Congratulations and thanks for the information. This might be a bit late (have registered recently): did you upgrade your electricity supply? Were there any issues with your DNO?

Greetings from South Oxfordshire. We are waiting to exchange on a very tired (actually unliveable), 1960s bungalow. It needs gutting and extending at the very least. We are also considering demolition and building to the Passive House "Classic" standard, especially if we can get planning permission for a 1½ storey home. It's likely to be all-electric, so "Plus" might be achievable. We're not too bothered about certification, except as a means to achieve those ends. I have renovated a couple of Victorian properties and read a lot over the years, including quite a bit on this site, but have never attempted anything of this magnitude. Apologies in advance for stupid questions!