Blooda

Probably too late now, but we did not use the Local Water Authority to lay the service pipe or any pipe on the property. We used a Local WIRS contractor. Much cheaper, and easier to deal with, as very small company. https://www.lrqa.com/en-gb/utilities/wirs-wirsae/ You mention Openreach are a nightmare, but there would be no problem negotiating with the new owners and running a cable from the old house [as suggested for the electric] , also Your contract will not be with Openreach it will be with a provider, who should give you compensation for being late. We managed to get £180 compensation, but we had to ask, as the were so late - It was in my advantage not to chase them though. We didn't move into a caravan, but I am not sure if it was on this forum or another, where someone, got a shed, and made it as a walkthrough at the door of the caravan, so they could leave mucky boots, and clothes and get changed to, so the muck did not encroach into the caravan. As others have said, it's time to think of yourselves,

Hi the 16KW heat pump is output rating not electrical rating. so will probably be a 1/4 to 1/3 of that max electrically, not taking into account diversity etc. If you are having an ASHP, it would be inefficient to use electric heated showers. Also 16KW is a big unit, we have a 7KW for circa 2500 ft2, for UFH, Rads upstairs, hot water and showers. We also had to tell the electrical DNO, when we applied, As Temp, said get a sparky to have a look, he will soon tell you.

We're building on Clay - which goes at least 5m deep. Our ground investigation guy, said the ground was not suitable for soak away, and are nowhere near a ground water sewer or suitable watercourse. The Water Authority, [Severn Trent] accepted this, and accepted this as a reason to allow rainwater to be put into the fowl sewer. It was a condition that the flow was attenuated to less than 2 l/s [If I remember]. My Engineer suggested an attenuation tank made up of soak away crates with membrane and then some sort of vortex valve. All of which he charged me in looking at and doing the calcs. The solution was more suited to a development of multiple houses rather than a single house. We ended up going to Rainwaterhavesting, who did the calcs for free, the solution was cheaper, which included attenuation and also rainwater harvesting to toilets.

I got quotes from the usual suspects, Protek, Self Build Zone, Build Safe. In the end I went to a local broker in the village, and Used ProAktive from Aviva. The price was about £20 dearer than the cheapest quote from the others, but at least I could have a sensible chat with the broker, and he did not ring me up every week asking me if I was ready to place an order. And it fits in my attempt to use local trades.

Thanks All

Due to the COVID-19 situation, The local builders merchants is only dealing with account holders. I did set up a couple of cash accounts, before the whole pandemic happened, but at the preffered location, we said we would do credit card purchases [half a percent cash back !] so no need for account. So due to this, and desperate to get on, my groundworker has ordered materials and invoiced me direct. So some questions :- 1) Is this invoice [see redacted attached] ok for a VAT claim, as the total cost is not broken down. 2) I dont not have the delivery notes, as he has them for his records, is that ok 3) do I have to fill in every item or just use "Various Building Materials" in the description. Regards A

Thanks for the prompt reply. 1) I will write to him and ask him. 2) I will speak to my ground worker [/mentor :- he has built 5 himself], and is already set up to send me VAT free invoices. A

Hi On a new build: 1) we had some trees removed [as indicated on the planning permission]. I discussed VAT and he said he had to charge it, at the time I thought at the time I would be able to claim it back at the end. so paid it. Am I incorrect and I can only claim back materials at the end? 2) We are getting a surveyor in to set out the foundations, Is this VAT free? Thanks in Advance

Hi, just wondered thoughts on where to buy block and beam flooring from [150 SqM] whether via a "builder merchants" or "concrete supplier". I have the architects drawing, but do the suppliers do any engineering checks or further "design". Also do the beams come to size or do they need cutting to size? Thanks A

Yep we are Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council - Neither apply.

Been lurking around here for a while, but 10 months after seeing a plot of land with outline planning permission, we now have had our drawing's signed off by building control today, and can apply for starting certificate. 4 bed detached house in a village in Leicestershire, traditional build and styling. We have never done anything on this scale before, only a integral garage conversion and detached garage at the current place. Loads of questions to ask, so hope you can help our journey. We were originally going down a full build route with a contractor but the quotes ranged from "too much" to "how much", so now we are splitting up. but with that it means the programme has probably doubled. It will make a change to pay someone to do "something" rather than produce paperwork.