Mulberry View

I am trying to acquire a small piece of land from my neighbour, it's about 150 sq ft, I have offered a deal to sort out a big dead tree problem they have and that I'll cover the legal work for the transfer. All is well so far, it's actually a pretty good deal for them for a piece of land they don't really need. I will arrange the surveyor to produce the LR compliant plans, but is a conveyancer necessary for the legal work to transfer it if both parties are compliant?

I am erring towards this. From a practical standpoint, this fence will serve 3 main purposes, boundary demarcation, temporary separation while the landscaping becomes established and to keep the Deer at bay. Carefully thought out landscaping will increasingly hold the Deer back, so the fence becomes less important over time.

This is what I think we'll do. Sounds like the best option. The boundary already has established plants along it and just needs filling in. We'll probably go to 5ft if we can, to make it more of a challenge for the Deer who tear our garden up. I guess it's just whether we use Timber posts straight in the ground as you described or concrete repair spurs with Timber posts attached. Thanks!

Hi @Phaedrus from a fellow Norfolk member. I think I know the project you've bought...?

Welcome @SeanGreentree from a fellow Norfolk member. Good luck with your plans.

Yes, that's a valid point.

We're planning to sell the property from which our plot was formed soon. It's a fairly large 3-bedroom 1950's 140m2 bungalow, standing in 0.5 acre of mature landscaped garden, in a highly secluded but desirable village location, close to amenities. The bungalow is solid and habitable (we've been living in it for the last 12 months), but would benefit from renovation. It has been valued at about £380-400k as it is. We haven't rushed to market with it because we ideally want to wait for Spring, when the garden comes alive as it is packed with lots of beautiful trees, non-native plants, shrubs etc. We also don't want to move out until our self-build plans are granted. The question is, should we go for outline planning permission for a conversion? Would the work of obtaining permission positively benefit the sale or is the agro just not worth it? We'd really like to be sure of hitting at least £400k for it, any more would of course be great.

Yes, that's my worry. When we sell, we are hoping to restrict the building line somewhat to protect the privacy of us in our adjacent property and the neighbour the other side. The planned location respects this. In essence, I'd like to get the old septic decommissioned and filled in before we sell, but I'm guessing I can't really leave it connected to nothing?

As as update to this, we are now in the planning phase of splitting this property up, to sell the original Bungalow with half-an-acre. The location of the current Septic Tank is a piece of land that we'd like to ideally retain. We do have an option to connect to the mains drains, but it's not easy and would have to dodge around the RPA's of 3 or 4 substantial trees. I'm wondering if it would be better for us to install a new treatment plant instead. The property is in need of modernisation, but I can see an easy location for a treatment plant to go (in the drive) and can be easily reached from the current pipework. What else is involved? Of course it'll be a case of choosing a capable treatment plant and dropping it into a hole in the ground with a feed in from the house. What else is there? A separate run-off tank? Soakaway? If we fit something half decent, then it'll hopefully be sufficient for the new owners and should accommodate their future plans without disrupting our land in the future. Hopefully it'll improve the saleability too over the dodgy old stink tank that's currently there. Or is it just too complicated for us to contemplate given that we'll be selling the property anyway?

How much detail do you need to go into at planning stage for specific material finishes? Our build design is not at all street-facing. In fact one of my biggest bug-bears is that very few people will be able to see it! Our architect is advising us to decide on pretty much every aspect of external finish at the point that we put in for planning, but what are the planning implications of changing things like what cladding option we choose and what render colour etc further down the line? Particularly with a property that doesn't need to fit into a street/village scene? We feel a bit overwhelmed with external finish options at the minute and remain hopeful that we might get to go to a self-build show at some point this year, where we'll get to see lots of finish options in real life. Even if we don't get to do that and we force ourselves to decide now, there is every chance we'll change our minds over the course of the project. Also, with doors and windows, is it a fair assumption that if you put in for the biggest option, then opt to reduce the size (for whatever reason), planning aren't likely to have an issue with that?

We had one near us, I've never seen anything like it. Was a simple plot split, but all the local residents got together and decided to latch onto the presence of Slow worms. It got refused for a number of reasons, but the Slow worms definitely put the nail in the coffin! We've not put plans in yet, but we're hopeful as we aren't street facing at all. In fact, anyone that says they're affected by it are just those that hate change but can't really stand a proper reason up against it. It doesn't block anyones view, light, enjoyment of their property etc. It's just change and I know that in itself will bring the objections in, hopefully they'll be the usual meaningless drivel.

What would be your suggestion? Other than the obvious (concrete).

Awful to read this. Wish I could offer some words of wisdom, but we're now contemplating our project so not as far ahead as you. Should we abort mission?! Seriously though, as others have said, you need to find a way to turn this around. The time of year and pandemic can't be helping either. Is it just the contractor and his work that's getting to you? If so, can't you address that somehow? Shame if its one entity that's ruining it for you.

Don't suppose you have any pics of the fence before the laurels? Also, any idea of cost or supplier?

We are looking at fencing options to divide our 1 acre plot in preparation for our build. It's around 80m in length, needs to make a 90° turn and will be fully landscaped from both sides, so it doesn't really need to be as substantial as concrete posts/panels. We do want it to be strong though, dog/deer proof and reasonably cost-effective (not necessarily 'cheap'). I'm thinking PVC coated chainlink with timber posts, or some sort of post/rail, paddock fence/mesh combo. Probably needs to be 4ft, possibly even 5ft tall to keep the deer at bay, but not make us feel too closed in. Any suggestions good people of Buildhub?

So, here is the latest incarnation of our design. For clarity, this is correctly orientated for true North. ***I can't get the uploader to work, I'll add these shortly*** The Ground Floor has been jiggled around to give us the ability to enter the house from the garden via the covered seating area to the West and into the Utility Room, which we're happier with. Of course neither downstairs Bedroom is technically ensuite, but are in close proximity to the Shower Room. Our Architect had really wanted to position the front door to give a long view through the Kitchen, but the RPA's of the trees just didn't allow it. It was only once we saw the plan that included the RPA's that we really realised, the plans you see here don't do it justice. A couple of non important trees have disappeared from this latest revision as they were just confusing things. We have altered the division between the Living Room and Kitchen. We are undecided whether we will keep with an Island or just fit a midi height cabinet run into a peninsula format between the 2 rooms, to a height of around 1.7m. Upstairs hasn't changed much, the Bedroom sizing has been changed slightly to make it a Double with ensuite WC. We've increased the size of the void over the hall, this isn't shown on this plan. We're very pleased with the overall look of the design, I know it's not perfect from an energy efficiency standpoint, but hoping we can spec the fabric high to give us the best chance. My ongoing concern is with the size of the Living Room and Kitchen/Dining Room. The total room size this area is 9.3x5.3m. We currently have the living room at 4.0x5.3m and the remaining 5.0x5.3 for the Kitchen/Dining. We cannot increase this any further within the parameter of this design, but I am a little nervous that it might be a little small. Should I be?

Anyone got any words of wisdom on the moving of small/medium sized Trees and large Shrubs? We'll be selling the original property on from which our plot was formed. It was the home of my late Grandmother and her Husband. The garden had been a work in progress since 1956, it was truly his lifes work, packed with many non-native species. It fell into slight disrepair in later years, due to their old age of course. But it is packed with unusual plants and it breaks my heart that the next owners will probably just flatten it all, some loss is inevitable as the Driveway has become quite small as the borders have advanced. I wish we could stay around to preserve it, but sadly we can't. My first candidate is a Chimonanthus Praecox, known as Wintersweet. It is absolutely glorious this time of year, never smelt anything like it. It is a shrub, about 3 metres tall/wide, but quite compact where it emerges from the ground. I also have a large, mature Rose that is too nice to lose. Even if I do lift a few of these things, there are plenty that are clearly way too big to move, so there will be lots left. I know it'll break my heart to see the next owners come in here, I'm hoping we can sell the house in the Spring or Summer so they can see the garden in full bloom as it might encourage them to preserve it. Have you any stories of success in similar projects? Is it a case of just digging it up with as much root as possible with a mixed success rate?

Trouble is you only know what you know and until recently, like many others, we didn't really know. We do now, so that's what counts.

To clarify, we don't put anything else untoward down there. Wipes, Cotton buds etc etc all go in the bin and always have. This is only about the 'monthly' products and I know change is needed. I have a reservation about having to tell visiting female family members, or do most people know? I certainly don't want a sign in there! Perhaps a nice-but-discreet bag dispenser and a good bin will be the way to go.

Just revisiting this as our plans are marching forwards. Our plot is, as mentioned above, a good distance from the point at which we'd connect to the mains drain. I think it can be done, but it'll be a hefty piece of work, passing various tree RPA's etc. We're still as we were when I posted this, not won over by the idea of a Treatment Plant, though it really does stand out as the favourite solution for so many reasons. I have an non-negotiable hatred for toilet brushes, they are vile, so that's not an option. But I am confident that we can make the changes to fall in line with cleaning products. Nice shiny new modern sanitaryware, a water softener and such like should reduce the need for cleaning products I guess. The only real sticking point is the disposal of ladies products. There are only 2 of us at home, but my good lady has not enjoyed the last 12 months that we've lived in the current Septic Tank served house in terms of having to use a bag/bin method. I know it's the right thing to do, but I don't want her to have to feel repulsed any more than necessary by her monthly 'visit', she suffers enough anyway. Do you think a well-spec'd Treatment Plant might be OK with the relatively small amount of non-preferable waste generated from one person? I can accept that it might make the need to pump more frequent. Maybe in time, she'll be OK with the change, but I think there's a better chance of winning her over if she can do so under her own terms.

Good tip. Hopefully when we get into the budgeting phase, we can know a bit closer. If it looks like we might be only a few grand out, we could look at a variety of ways to fund that.

Are your plans on here somewhere? Would be good to see. We've had ours fettled today, think we've nailed it. 170m2 plus the 24m2 carport. Seems to pretty much tick all our boxes. Our aim out of this is a stunning but modest home that we can hopefully finish without needing a mortgage. If we overkill the size, we'll be paying for it every month, which for 2 of us will be a regret I'm sure!

Again, really grateful for all of these comments. As mentioned above, we have proposed a series of changes to the layout on the Western end since this concept was drawn. Shuffling things around a bit. SWMBO has formed a strong opinion that she would like Bathroom (8) to be properly Ensuite to Bedroom (7), and a separate WC brought in. The objections to this from both me and the Architect is that we would then have 4 Toilets and that feels like overkill. I understand why my good lady likes that idea, but it pains me to have such a lovely spare Bedroom with what will be a beautiful Bathroom attached that will rarely be used (perhaps once or twice a year when we have family over, if Boris ever lets us). I feel as though a main family bathroom close to the spare bedroom is sufficient. Any thoughts on this? We have suggested putting the Plant Room and Utility Room side-by-side on the wall where the Shower/WC and Bed are currently shown to the West, I think there is room to potentially fit a small WC in between the two, accessed off the Utility Room or separately. This would give us the ability to enter the house from the garden, from under the cover of (14) and have a WC close by, though even if we didn't have the separate WC, the family Bathroom wouldn't be far. This would then allow the Spare Bedroom and Office to be back-to-back in the space occupied by 5/6/10 currently. We did ask for a spacious entrance area with a full height void and an opportunity to have a bold feature staircase. This design definitely allows for that. In case it isn't obvious, (2) is a covered walkway between the Carport and main House, the back of which would be slatted and would harmonise with the thick copse of trees and bushes behind it. One of my other reservations is the lack of optimisation for PV, which in fairness, I hadn't expressly asked for in the brief, I left it to assumption. We are planning to build to a good fabric-first standard, but I am of the opinion that we'd be mad not to have PV in terms of future-proofing, is that a fair assumption? Or not worth changing an otherwise good design for?

We do hope to get this right first time. Luckily we hope our needs will decrease rather than increase and part of the justification for keeping it modestly sized is so we can stay in it for years to come. We're in our forties now, so trying not to get too hung up on stair lifts and zimmer frame practicality just yet!!