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We built our current home in Cheshire back in 2017 using MBC Timberframe and it's been fantastic - loved the build process, love the house. But it's time for us to move on (we'll both be retired by the end of September) and we're relocating to East Lothian, to a lovely plot we shall be completing on in the next 3 or 4 weeks. We are very, very excited! For a number of reasons we've gone with Danwood and will be building (or have built for us I suppose is more accurate) a modified version of their Point 270E design. We're aiming/hoping to get through planning by the end of the year, so watch this space for more updates

I've been looking at composite cladding for our next build and although many of the samples we look at are good, I've yet to see a large area that doesn't look artificial. I think the problem is that the grain pattern is repeated too frequently, like every 3m or so, which is fine in a sample but not in situ. So the first thing I would do is check the pattern repeat

We are in the process of buying a plot in East Lothian that has planning expiring in November. I spoke with the council and they told me the planning permission could be extended. This is what they told me: Whether a renewal application or full planning application, the application should be made and submitted through the Scottish Government planning portal - https://www.eplanning.scot/ePlanningClient/ Guidance notes on how to make an application for renewal of a planning permission or for full planning permission and on the associated fees can be found on the Scottish Government planning portal.

What's a paper services search? Not heard of that! The plot is on a residential street so I am assuming, dangerous I know, that electric, water and mains sewer are all easily available. In fact, I have seen a number of what must be water meter access covers in the pavement so I'm comfortable that the water is there. We're in Cheshire and the plot is in Scotland so I can't pop up for a while. On our last visit I didn't check for electricity as the existing building warrant shows the connection going through the garden and around the back of the house that is selling the plot. I don't really want to do this (and I'm sure they don't) if the supply is obtainable out of the front. However, I think using the service provided by Cornerstone as you suggested is a really good one - I will look into that, thank you

We're about to submit an offer for a plot in East Lothian (SPEnergy Networks) but before we do I want to check where we would be able to connect to the network for a new electricity supply. Are there maps available that show this information?

Thanks both, much appreciated. @jandj Where in the north west are you? Would it be possible to come and have a chat at some point as I guess we're not too far away from you?

We're looking at our next house build. For the current one we used an architectural technologist (Tony Holt), came up with a design we liked, had MBC supply the frame and then subcontracted all the trades - we're very happy with the result. Looking at the next build we're considering using Dan-Wood - I don't think I could build to the same price and the budget is going to be much tighter this time around. We quite like one of their designs (Point 270E) and it would sit well on the plot we have in mind but we would like to make a few changes and/or come up with something original. The questions are: for those that have used Dan-Wood how did you find this re-design process?; any advice?; which agent did you use? what was your rationale for using DW? I've met with the agent for the north west (where we live now) and had a call with the agent for Scotland (where the build will be) and the north west agent filled me with a lot more confidence.

I think we're sorted on the visibility side of things now. The remaining question is about how far back from the road the gate needs to go - this is more a feature of entering rather than leaving the driveway. I've seen various distances quoted and the basic premise seems to be that the vehicle needs to be able to get off the road while waiting for the gates to open, but none of these figures seem appropriate for the leviathans that seem to be taking over the roads these days, so it all seems a little arbitrary. By contrast, all our cars are small

Cheshire West and Chester

Thanks for that @Temp. I think this is more for roads though, rather than driveways onto roads.

Thanks. I had an email exchange with the planning department but they seemed more concerned with the height of the gate than anything. Obvoiusly, that will be until I actually submit the application!

When we finished building the house we created a driveway entrance (obviously!) but didn't add gates. We're now in the process of landscaping the drive area and want to add some tallish gates for added privacy. As they will be over 1m tall, we're aware we'll need planning permission but I'm struggling to get any information from the planning dept as to what else the layout must comply to, other than it all must be in-keeping with the local area blah, blah, blah. I've read a couple of articles talking about visibility splays, but nothing from an official source. The key question for us really is how far back do they need to go? Again, I've seen a few figures bandied around, but nothing consistent and nothing from an official source. Does anyone here know what the rules are, or are there no 'rules'?

Make sure you get to see a sample of whatever grey you choose - the most common one is quite 'green', which is great if you want that but not if you don't! We ended up going with Internorm and choosing one of their 'premium' colours purely for this reason.

They do scratch quite easily, so it depends on how careful you are. They do look good (in my opinion), but I don't think they're top quality unfortunately. Would I get them again? Actually, I probably would - we aren't heavy handed and only 1 or 2 are showing marks so their aesthetics would sway it for me

Because they got permission due to Class Q. The existing building must, in structural terms, already be “capable of functioning as a dwelling”. This means is that the building as it stands must be capable of conversion. If it requires such substantial building operations then what is proposed amounts to the construction of a new building. If that is the case then the conversion would fall outside the scope of Class Q