Alan Ambrose

For starters, my list includes: + force the inspectorate and LPAs to publish full stats and don't let them play games e.g. taking 3 months to get to validation. Put the bottom 5% in 'special measures' without fail. + penalise LPAs financially if they're slow - return planning fees after 13 weeks, automatic approval after 20 weeks. + penalise LPAs if the pre-app advice they give is wrong. Allow recovery of resulting follow-on costs in the county courts (architects fees etc) due to erroneous pre-app advice. + force LPAs to accept paid-for meetings with applicants. + stop LPAs using generic terms without more detailed definition - amenity, environment etc. + allow applicants to nominate applications for planning committee review. + make single dwellings exempt from part O, SuDs, biodiversity, nitrate neutrality rules. + make LPAs suggest design amendments (in at least 3 rounds) instead of just blank refusal. + disallow LPA refusal using generic terms without evidence & substantiation. For instance if the LPA thinks the design is 'too big' they should justify why (e.g. floor areas of neighbours, average floor areas in LPA region) and propose a figure for an acceptable floor area. + for appeals, throw out the LPA statements of case (i.e. appeal automatically allowed) if the LPA doesn't follow the appeals procedural guide. + automatically award full costs (including applicant's time at a prescribed rate) if an appeal is allowed - right now, there are no repercussions for an LPA that wastes applicant's resources by going to appeal.

One thing you can guarantee is that the wheels turn very slowly indeed. Maybe apply for ldc first and see how it goes. The LPA have to ‘investigate’ complaints & breaches but if it’s not a crazy breach or you have not pissed them off already, there’s a good chance they simply can’t be bothered, will give you your ldc and it’s out of everyone’s hair. LDC, appeal, retrospective, appeal could easily take 3 years.

What do you think that means?

Suggest start with the overall sizing and economics calcs. It could be a quick comparison with extra insulation / airtightness would put it into context. Easy to get an idea of monthly generation per panel from pvgis: https://pvgis.com You’ll almost certainly need dno permission.

The ice and water thing is great btw, wouldn’t have another kitchen without it.

Maybe try out a little bit to check it doesn’t look horrible?

Out of interest why did the part 2 form need to wait for the land registry?

>>> 2400mm is the best ceiling height I think there’s a lot to be said for 2.7 or even higher - if you look at grand old houses, they look grand partly because everything is oversize compared with ‘normal’ houses. Sure it would take a couple of extra hours to plaster - not a big deal in the big scheme. Yes, I definitely agree with making an easy service channel - I’m planning to put a horizontal cable tray in around socket height.

So you start off with your plot which is a bit of grass. Somehow it drains to somewhere right now even though it’s mostly clay. You plan a house with a roof and a permeable driveway. With me so far 😀. What bit are you considering for SuDS drainage? The roof sure. The driveway? - Why though and what’s the point of making it permeable then? Surely not the grass, which is the same as before although there’s less of it? And can I get a credit for the grass that I’ve taken away and therefore doesn’t need to drain now?

I thought it was clear these days that the DNOs couldn’t make you pay for building their own infrastructure - only your own connection. Did I slip into a parallel universe for a bit?

Maybe double check that the lights run correctly in sequence - otherwise agree with the others - test data only and/or re-terminate.

>>> Boats are under mostly compression whereas baths are mostly under tension Yeah, I was trying to be slightly amusing, only slightly tho. I should confess that I’ve had a wooden bath for 25 years. My design and it’s a lot heavier duty than this. There were no calculations. Proof is in the pudding tho.

For anyone with a similar problem - I've taken to importing manufacturers drawings that don't have invert levels or falls into CAD, scaling the image to the largest dimensions shown on their drawing and then reading off any measurement I need.

>>> Good news is that my district councillor is calling it to planning committee. Nice, good luck Keep us posted.

Worth trying a mechanical method imo. Stainless or brass brush (not steel) by hand to begin with - may need some experimentation to find the right method. Do wear eye protection. You could just wait until the contractor gets back and ask them then. It won’t get worse over a few weeks.

To me, the bath sides look a bit thin if they’re not supported? You’ve filled it with water already? My dad was a boat builder of wooden boats (which are inside-out baths). I would readily hold up my hand to the accusation of ‘mr over-engineer’ though.

Yeah, agree. Receiving the cad files might be quicker for them as it allows them to read off detailed dimensions easily, but they'll have to reproduce and expand a lot of the detail so it won't same them that much time. They can read in the pdf or an image file, scale using a known dimension (or the scale bar which should be on the drawing anyway) and then take off any dimensions they need. Maybe an hour per drawing depending on how detailed it is and then 15 mins to re-create in their own CAD package. CAD files don't always convert 100% accurately anyway, there's often information lost along the way.

Great

>>> Would it be reasonable for me to conclude that there shouldn't be an issue here? Certainly my LPA seems to believe 'smaller is better', so yes.

Apolohies if I missed it, but what was the appeal turnaround from filing date to decision date?

I'm impressed by your fortitude.

Nice, thanks.

>>> Do you have some suggestions? Is it best to get someone who is used to dealing with a particular LPA As I said - a few hours on your LPA's planning portal and/or the appeals casework portal. Fish out appeals with similar characteristics (define this how you want). Note the adviser if there was one and the success/failure. Make a list. Approach one or two with the highest success rates. No need to use local, but a local might have relationships which may help (or hurt). I once used the author of a well known planning book.

Yeah seems not unreasonable to have a windfall tax.

>>> I can clearly see evidence of good and bad consultants Is one method to look at appeals in your area and see who gets the most wins? @joe90 - I'm super pleased for you that your appeal worked. But it's probably not good to extrapolate from a single data point. I've been slow to grasp this point myself, but is getting any new application booted to Planning Committee also a reasonable tactic?