Roundtuit

You're not getting a laughing emoji for that...

Fantastic! Keep picking them young though or they'll soon get away from you.

Looks like your window could have been a inch taller! I expect they measured the old ones and didn't account for the difference in cill profiles. Just trim back the foam and packers and point-up the gap (looks like you have a bit of pointing to do on the stonework anyway). I wouldn't expect to see anything significant between the glazing tbh.

As above.... you'll never achieve 'perfect information', but if you do, the rest of the world will f**k it up for you before you get it built. Take your best guess, and start building something ffs!

It could just be old lath and plaster sagging, but as above... need a bit more to go on please!

I'm not disagreeing, just interested in discussing the theory... I thought that the reason for a non return valve (eg on a garden tap that can be attached to a hose) or an a-type air gap (toilet cisterns) was to stop anything unpleasant being sucked back into the mains system if, for example, the fire brigade tapped into a hydrant up the road and caused reverse pressure?

38mm sounds a bit tight for plasterboarding tbh; doesn't give you much room for screw placement at joints. It also sound a bit light-weight for timber cladding, but you might be ok; you can use double battens at board ends. Thinking about it... you could also double-up for plasterboard joints, but that's a lot of extra faff.

Is a risk of back-flow the concern? Maybe put non-return valves on the feeds?

I've done a renovation job and a new build, and would always now lean towards demolition and starting afresh if the numbers stack up. Living in it for a while sounds like a good plan. A year will fly by as you get a feel for the plot and go through the planning process.

I'm with your architect and Mrs Kelvin. I get the dog thing, but two front doors wouldn't be an acceptable solution for me. Can't your architect come up with any other way to do it? You're right to design a house that works for you but also bear in mind that you, or a family member, may need to sell one day, and an 'eccentric' layout won't help.

Architect or architectural technician?

As above, looks like Joint-it or similar.

Ours is rebated feather-edge, face-fixed at 400mm centres. There was the occasional slightly cupped board that wouldn't pull in tight when it was fixed, but I don't think anything has moved much since installation.

Wow... demolish and re-build would be my first suggestion. Assuming that's not an option, I'd try and get a reputable builder or two over for an informal chat to get an idea of how viable this is.

Is this an 'add on'? Can't see those pillars on the elevation drawings, or am I missing something?

If your main contractor doesn't have the necessary resource 'in-house', then I think he needs to do whatever it takes to help you deliver your project. Sounds like the requirement has been pretty clear from the outset. What's his proposed solution?

Ah well, back to flicking through the tv channels then 😉

As above: waste of time. Stuff only germinates much nearer the surface, and a membrane will only restrict worms from doing their job. Get the hosepipe out if you need to; no need for sprinklers unless you're really precious about your lawn and/or don't have time to get the hosepipe out.

We went with 'c'. Didn't give it much thought or really consider the alternatives tbh, but used bigger ducting. Our island has hob, SensioPod electric socket on the kitchen ring (well worth considering), and led lights over the plinth, switched from a wall.

I used about 3000 of the tongue tite 45mm screws on siberian larch a couple of years ago. No issues with pull through or movement, so you should be OK with lost heads.

From the plan, it looks like there is quite a lot of 'amenity' land included in the development. I can see why the council aren't keen for you to box your bit in, and if everyone did it, it would significantly affect the character of the area. I think I'd accept the 1m fence option tbh.

I saw an 'interesting' outdoor storage solution in a back garden recently; a couple of knackered old fridge-freezers. Not pretty, but reasonably weatherproof, comes with adjustable shelving, and available foc in a lay-by near you! 😀

Easier to plane some timber down to size and fit new I think, so no need to be so careful when getting the old ones out.

I think you need to separate the two issues. The planning objection is the one that needs the focus. Their poor administration is neither here nor there really in my opinion, and pulling them up on it is unlikely to change the objection.

Might be worth trying Mitchell Piling at Saxthorpe. Piling and reinforced concrete is their main speciality, but they do other groundworks I think. They did a good job on our piles and ring beam.