Omnibuswoman

We only agreed that we would explore the possibility of building our own home in January, and now somehow seem to be well and truly on our way to seeing that happen in the coming year. Very exciting, but also quite daunting. Like most self-builders, I watch episode after episode of Grand Designs, Build the Dream etc, wondering why people fall into the same financial pitfalls almost every time, and more importantly, how we might avoid doing the same. Having found a plot with planning consent pretty much straightaway, we are now making great strides with our potential builder, Dan, who is a passivhaus enthusiast and all round eco-builder. We think we have arrived at the actual design, and will be in touch with the planning department shortly to see if we can have the changes to the original planning consent considered as material minor amendments rather than making a fresh full planning application. We have copied the scale and footprint of the design that won the original planning consent - a rectangular box that is both generously proportioned and an efficient use of space - and are designing in efficiencies where possible to make the best use of our budget. Three weeks ago we went down to the plot for the first time since having completed the purchase to began clearing debris and strimming the long grass. My parents, who live 10 minutes away, just over the border in Devon, gave us a hand. After four days of physical labour we were all absolutely exhausted, but very satisfied with our handiwork (see photos). We also met several of our future neighbours who almost all were absolutely lovely. We had a remote meeting with eco-builder Dan yesterday to discuss timescales and the build method. He proposed that we consider a stick build due to our very tight access (a 50m long driveway to the plot with only 2.2m width and restricted height in places), and to begin next Spring. With the likelihood of a second wave of Covid striking in the winter, and with me working for the NHS, we think that planning the build for the spring is probably sensible. It gives us plenty of time to deal with planning and do some thorough research on the various options for AHSPs, MVHRs, windows, external finishes etc. Below are photos of me, my parents, and my husband Darren, all hard at work. C63ACCAC-732D-438E-A3D4-11048661E3F6.mov IMG_7771.mov

I forgot to add that the balloons on the gate were put there by Isobel, our nearest neighbour and the vendor of the plot, to welcome us to our new home!

6m would be plenty to cover the distance between the ground and our bedroom wall

I'm just looking into the possibility (necessity) of AC for our master bedroom, and it looks very much as though this will become an essential piece of kit as the planet warms. We have our master bedroom in the NE corner of the house, second floor, and I'm wondering whether I could ground mount the AC unit, or whether it has to be a certain proximity to the internal unit? What was the reason you couldn't put yours on the path @Jeremy Harris? We will have a path running along the north side (gravel) between the house and the workshop.

thanks @JFDIY I'll have a look at that now!

Good thinking @Dan F, no I hadn't thought about that!

@joe90 I'm guessing that's more than 2m wide, eh?!!!!

What a monster!!!

Thank you @Ferdinand, @ToughButterCup, @Cpd, @PeterStarck, @Construction Channel, @Conor, @joe90 & @Declan52. Great food for thought - I appreciate you all taking the time to contribute. I suspect a machine will come in handy for landscaping our garden, and for various tree-related tasks around the plot. As we can afford the upfront outlay, I'm very tempted to get my hands on one. Unfortunately the local one has already sold, but there's no great rush so I can have a look around for something suitable. I will take a look at digger world to see if I can visit any time soon.

@joe90 how big is a JCB compared to a mini digger?

Thank you all!! Brilliant ideas. I’ll see if the chap is willing to hang onto it while I test one out. I LOVE the idea of diggerland!!!

will do!

I've spotted a mini digger on Facebook market local to us and am thinking about whether it would be worth buying. I have several things that it could be used for, and limited width access (only 2m in places - I can just about drive my qashqai up the drive and into the plot). We need to get the topsoil removed, and have it taken away and disposed of by a specialist processing company because it is contaminated with arsenic. Due to the access issues this is looking like it will cost around £12.5k at best. I'm wondering about saving some ££ by doing the scraping off myself, and just paying the company to remove it and dispose. That could save us £2-3k. There are some tree stumps to dig out as well, and we want to dig a small pond in one corner. Any advice/thoughts/feedback? I've never driven or used machinery such as this - am I mad to think I could learn quickly?? The mini digger is being sold for £6750.

I was just looking at this company's website a couple of days ago as we are very keen to have external shutters, both for reducing solar gain, and for sensitive him indoors who needs total blackout to be able to sleep soundly. I started looking first of all at European companies for exactly the reason you mentioned - way more common in mainland Europe than over here. I'd be delighted to hear about positive experiences of purchasing these from any buildhubbers. I started looking at a Hungarian company (partly because I speak some Hungarian and have contacts there) called Anlux (www.anlux.hu). I'm planning to email them to find out if they sell over here, or have any partners to sell through.

Thanks, I do appreciate your thoughts. The generosity of buildhubbers’ contributions is something I never cease to be touched by. It really does make all the difference when embarking on a project like this. We have an unusual preference for upstairs living, probably generated by having lived in upstairs flats for upwards of 25 years. I’ve amended the design to add in a back door into the utility/laundry room for wet dog entry, and potentially to a tea-making point so that when we’re gardening we can pop in to make a cuppa and have a wee without having to take off our muddy boots. The downstairs has been in part designed so that it could function as a semi self-contained living space, should my parents need a bit of TLC (we are moving 250 miles to be nearby as they approach old age). We plan to put a wooden balcony on the first floor outside of the French windows by the dining table, for a small table and two chairs. Just an outside space to sit and have a coffee in the morning, or a glass of something cold in the evening should the sun be shining. The planning application for that will be done a bit later on as we’re trying to get the plan thorough as a minor material amendment to the existing consent (which is free of CIL due to its age).

There is existing planning consent on the plot for the house on the plan, but we haven’t submitted our planning application as yet. i’d love to hear your ideas!

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The plan is to acquire it later on, quietly, and eventually put some raised beds and fruit bushes on it. We have a very nosy neighbour unfortunately who seems to be on to the council complaining every 5 minutes, so we shall need to tread very carefully!

We have views towards Dartmoor to the East, and what will be a lovely garden on the south side of the house.

The western boundary is with a field - grass pasture. I agree with you it is very ordinary - we have a tight budget and have tried to keep the plan as simple as it is possible to make it affordable. But I like the idea of having a back door in the laundry/utility area for doggy ablutions, and an uninterrupted front hallway.

Yes it is... we haven’t acquired it yet, but we are calling it ‘the paddock’ for that reason. It used to be a market garden. It seems rather odd that our plan to grow fruit and veg in this area would constitute a change of use!

Our garden will incorporate the eastern paddock eventually, so will be the full width of the image above.

this is the original plan which obtained planning consent. Our house will be the same location and same primary footprint, but without the external sunroom on the south side. The garage to the rear (north) will be a large shed/workshop.

North is to the left of my sketches - the wall of the wetroom and en-suite faces north. So the juliet balcony will face south, overlooking the garden. Dan told us that we may face overheating issues from the East and West facing windows (it will be a passivhaus) so we must factor that in alongside capturing the distant view of Dartmoor to the East.

It’s for the Hounds of the Baskervilles ? It literally is an enclosure for us to wipe off muddy paws before they come into the house. We planned an outside porch originally but have abandoned that in favour of a modest entrance hall.