ToughButterCup

The research evidence completely supports your conclusion. Worse, when I trained with Simon Catling, we learned how few teachers taught even the rudiments of making or interpreting a simple plan, never mind issues like the appreciation of third angle projection or isometric drawing. (Apologies for the digression) Ian

What evidence do they have that the build was unlawful? Or more precisely, what did they actually say when they told you that the build is unlawful? I ask because you might be able to claim for the new build stuff in the normal way - might you have accidentally claimed some refunding in error?

Don't just sit. Plan, plan plan. Ian

Can I suggest you do a bit of networking? Have a word with your mates, ask around. Who is dealing with your case (sometimes called a Case Officer)? Read Decision Notices written by that person. Who has any experience of working with that officer? Talk to your local councillors, and in particular the one who has responsibility for Planning. Look at time scales - date submitted (i.e. validated) to Decision notice dates. There will be a range of time scales - yours is likely to be in the middle of that range if your application is unexceptional. Take an interest in refusals. Why were applications refused? If you can, look for those that were refused , and subsequently overturned at Appeal. That can be very instructive. All this research will only hint at the answer you will be given. Not so very far from me, there is a case of an application which bears the hallmarks of grudge; between applicant, officers, Head of Planning and others. Unevidenced claim and counter-claim, almost pointless pre-conditions, official complaints aired at public meeting(s), obvious and uncomfortably documented erroneous procedure. And the application may yet succeed.

From bitter, bitter experience, I echo @PeterStarck's advice. The best you can do is to build up-wind , I think.

@JSHarris, and when you've done the garage, how about the car as well?

+ a million

Oh poo. If only you had told me that when I needed to know... ?

Yes, of course but......£

Hi Rich, I went to the training days ages ago at The NSBRC Swindon. Yes it is important (well for me it was). Tim Bevan comes out on site for the first half day or more if needed at the beginning of your build. Excellent service, I think. Ian

To 'lose' all of them several times is unforgivable. 'Lose' is being used loosely here. It's just that every time we cover the pile marks (nails) on the strip foundations the piles are lost AGAIN. And there are three layers of EPS, the first of which contains the Perinsul block. And the position of those is important. There are about 50 blocks to place accurately. Why does this matter? Well for one thing , it's time wasting. For another I'm sure there should be an elegantly simple answer to this problem. Here's Dan of Cowley Construction, patiently marking out yet again. Got an answer for this one? Is there a simple answer? The closest I have come to it is to laminate the plan. At least that saves paper.

Hello Kris, I'll very likely be glad of a chat...... For starters, concrete delivery and volumes. How did you manage that aspect of things? Did you build (in area terms) to the exact volume of a load of concrete? Oh, by the way, welcome! Ian

Good idea Dave. The way in which it's delivered or handed over will be important too......

[...] There's not much I can do. My (new) house is upstream of the neighbour in question. If his new pipe did become overwhelmed then the water would back up, the level would rise, and it would end up flowing over his lawn above the culvert to get back into the burn. There is nothing I can do on my own plot to prevent that, and nowhere else for it to go other than through, or over, his garden, somehow. By the time it backed up far enough to flow over his garden, it would have also flooded part of my lawn, i.e the burn would have "burst it's banks" [...] So not doing what he proposes is in his interest somewhat more than yours. What's the difference in cost between what he proposes and the higher spec?

I wondered where that gearbox went. Can I have it back please? It's failed its MoT every year since then......

The tree line in the photo - which are probably up- wind looks perfect for causing some nice rotor: and so could well make for fun take offs and knock-kneed landings. But living next to your own runaway : what a treat that will be.

Still temptable eh? It's Friday. It's Ok.

That's the sensible approach @joe90.

and it's driving me crazy. Nuts in fact. Today for example; bit of a pause in progress for a couple of days. Time for piddling about with spreadsheets and updating paperwork. And I have to mix a bit of practical stuff with PC based stuff because - well I just have to. I have always had a workshop, even if it was a really small one; no more than a scaffold plank hinged to the back of an outhouse door. But now I haven't got even one. (Overpriviledged moaner). I'm even starting to consider installing a work surface inside my Landy. I don't mind the cold, I quite like rain, wind gets to me a bit, especially if there's driven rain in it, but I love being outside. But rain and cold and electricity don't mix. Has anyone solved this particular 'itch'?

Life as a DNO wouldn't be so hard methinks. Just a couple of extra isolation valves .... just like a block of flats innit?

I should have made the key question more clear - could I use the same LPG supply for both properties?

@Ferdinand , the cheque is in the post. Only got to get it past Debbie, and the job's done.

Our current house is a cool, drafty colander. And to finance Salamander Cottage, we need to sell the colander. [The sublime built next to the ridiculous] So I'm putting Repair-and-Replace plan together. Trying hard not to look at the cost. Done my due diligence , thanks @Ferdinand, @Onoff, @JSHarris , @Crofter , @TerryE and others. EPC for the current house is likely to be X, Y or probably Z. To top it all off, the main heating system is a multi-fuel stove that enchants everyone who comes in and settles down on the sofa. Heats all the hot water, a good few rads and a cat. Bless it, the fire needs daily maintenance and has never yet performed well when there's a blocking high-pressure system. We'll never sell with the current set up. So out with the old and in with the new. E7; never get our money back. Oil; just don't like it. Illogical? Maybe, but that's it. That leaves LPG. Calor are fitting tanks free. Salamander cottage is 20 meters away. Any reason I shouldn't use Calor for both properties? Too simple?

I'll try it out...... just as I have given my spare phone to our daughter. Ian

Clear-view window I notice. Wonder whether there's a smoke extractor in there too?