LSB

Hi, I'm just thinking about drainage and I'm hopefully confused. My understanding is that there should be a drop of 1:40 i.e. 25mm per m. Our building is 25m long and has a toilet at each end and one in the middle with the treatment plant about 40 m away down a slope, so a drop of probably 2m across garden. So, the total length from start to finish is 60 m. This would mean that the drop should be 60m x 25mm = 1500mm = 1.5m For the house it is 25m * 25mm = 625mm so 0.625m So if we start at 1m deep at the right then we need to end up @ 2.5m down for the perfect slope. But, because of the slope of the land the treatment plant will be deeper than 2.5m from the start of the run. Questions: 1. Does it matter if we go slightly steeper. 2. Does the drainage pipe have to be straight or can it be 1:40 past the house and then steeper to the treatment plant. 3. Should we be doing something completely different TIA Jill

so, what about height, lots of barns are only suitable for single storey properties. using the above should it be possible to get PP for a 1.5 or 2 storey house on the grounds that it would look better. this is a barn that could get class Q. Or, will the new build still have to stick to the size of the barn curtilage

During August we focussed on clearing the exterior of the site to allow for easier access for future work, such as laying drainage and installing electricity. This was the back passage when we started, at the end of the winter before all the weeds started growing. and this is after most of the roof is gone and the bank & retaining wall are cleared. In the south west yard where the electricity pylon is, this time in the middle of winter. This was what it looked like. during the clearance, lots of mess and now, getting ready for the electricity to come from the pylon. We need to do a trench to within 1m of the pole and still need to dig up the yard, but as that is thick concrete that's going to be quite a bit more effort with the breaker and digger. Aside from that we reduced the size of one of the openings in the barn to allow for the pantry, something I have now and can't do with out. After knocking out the half blocks, this also shows how the back bank looked before it was dug out, lots of bracken. and now reduced in size. What does Sept bring, well I don't know yet, block work to build up the internal walls I hope, but HID has a bad hip at the moment so moving and lifting blocks is a bit beyond him at the moment. So, we shall see. Have fun and 'see' you next month. Jill

I'm in Suffolk, so next door to Essex and they are difficult as well. We had to have, bat / owl, contamination phase 1, Ecological and archaeological all before they would even consider the application (Class Q). Hence, we had 2 refusals because our planning consultant tried to fight for these being post permission. We then tried for knock down and rebuild and we refused. This lot took years so we just gave up and we are converting the barn. I'm not sure if full PP is as difficult as you don't have to meet so much criteria, but your planning consultant should know. We did a pre-app with the LPA and they told us exactly what they wanted before they would even consider, but that was at least helpful in knowing where to go.

So, those planning apps were for business, I assume that you want it as a residential dwelling. This may make a difference as they seem concerned with noise and access which will be much reduced by one house. How big is the barn as to fit all that it must be pretty large.

don't start anything before sending commencement notice re CIL, that's much bigger risk than planning discharge. And of course that may be an issue with starting before discharge.

it doesn't make for a good married life, but after my accident I slept for a year in a single electric bed with the back up so I didn't sleep flat and with the bit behind my knees bent. All from my consultants suggestion not to lie flat. Granted my damage was lumbar not neck or upper back. Do anything you can to get comfortable and sleep, that helps so much.

this sounds like a trapped nerve in your neck, you should try getting one of those triangular pillows using by mothers with babies and sleep at a different angle. Just to see if it makes any difference. Or, of course, it could be those hours of playing squash that's making your arms dead.

I've had multiple operations on mine, and it was slightly better for a couple of years, but now I have the 'wobbles' again. Last time that happened one of the internal rods had become lose. Doing the physio stuff at the moment as they are the ones who have to refer me to the hospital. Good luck with your appointment, when you get it.

sorry to hear about your back, hope it recovers soon, same issue that I have.

one of the greatest ones I heard, and not on 1st Apr, is that the the white mesh covering put on some crops to aid growth should not be allowed. apparently, it ruins the view for photos.

like many people we had to have an archaeology survey for our barn conversion, build in the 60's. They didn't find anything thankfully, but one condition of planning that we are not allowed to replace the 120m driveway in case there is anything under the muddy track.

We had asbestos on part of our barn, we removed it ourselves, double wrapped each sheet, double wrapped the skip and put 2 layer of DPM over the top. There is a tip near here that has a licence to bury it themselves. To get it done we were quoted 6k, it cost us about 2k to do it ourselves with the cost of the special skip, DPM to cover everything, special clothing and licence to dispose. When we were looking someone offered to take if from us for £500, wonder which layby it would have ended up in. I've just realised where this is, my best friend lives in Chewton Mendip and runs a B&B. I'd love to move back to that area of the country, but need to finish this build and retire.

just a thought, is your house leasehold or freehold. Some developers are building houses and selling them leasehold and consequently having a lot more control.

Getting class Q, as others have said, depends largely on your LPA. Where I live this would never get Class Q as they require a full building suitable for conversion. Where abouts are you in the country, not your address, just the county or area. As others have said the best thing to do is to speak to a local planning consultant and also look at the LPA portal. Search for Class Q over the last 2 years and look at the Design and Access statement for pictures of the barns being converted. And, the way it works is you can have 3 larger dwelling or 5 smaller ones. So, if you wish to have a large house for yourself then you won't get class Q for all 5.

you are welcome, I will get it posted next week and let you know how much that is.

The latest edition is the 13th and I think another is coming out. But, I have this lying around and wondered if, for the price of postage, anyone would like it. I also have the 13th which I use quite a bit and like.

Thanks, we are waiting on the SE calculations on these, but that's probably a good idea.

When looking for first homes for my daughters lots of 'starter' homes only had showers so I assume that this is okay. My MIL also changed her bathroom to have just a shower.

sorry, I don't understand what you mean, could you expand. thanks

Hello After demolishing the top of some block walls as they were not in a good state we are building the wall back up. This needs to be on a slope to allow for the roof. This is a rough diagram to show. What we need to know is: Where the above shows mortar, is this what we use or should we be using concrete. The part blocks are cut to approx the right shape and we will put sides where the area is too small. This is how far we have got, not mortared in yet. The roof line is as per the string. TIA Jill

we were in for 25k by the time we got PP and discharged conditions so 7k would have been wonderful

we didn't see anyone visit our site, but when we had the first refusal they said they had been. but, for the 2nd app they didn't come again, another refusal the 3rd app was approved, but no additional visits and no plan changes, just a contamination survey included

as we have a cesspit we don't have to pay waste. but, we do have a meter for incoming And, I always clean up after my dogs, even at home and agree it is disgusting. There is a beach near here that pre-covid used to be clean, but since it started I no longer go there as it's so bad

my usage seems quite low compared to some of you at 165 for 2 of us and 2 horses, maybe I should wash more ?