DevonKim

Yes, they are swift boxes - part of my planning permission; there are a whole load of other ecological conditions too, a native species hedge, bat boxes and hedgehog access. I'm very happy to comply with them all, but would like to keep the badgers out of my garden!

It is now looking something like a house. There is still some way to go, particularly internally, but Building Control are happy so far.

Foundations are coming on nicely now

Like many other people, I have had slow progress getting started, but I now finally have the diggers on site.

Yes @saveasteading and @ETC, thank you for your comments. It isn't quite correct for my timber frame, but I have not got enough info to sketch up a detail myself which will give me something that I can use to discuss with Building Control. @Jenki I'm right on the edge of Dartmoor, so I will definitely need the radon protection sadly.

Thank you folks, That is really helpful, as it looks as though the consensus is that it is not a great detail. @saveasteading no, not my own detail, which is why I am querying it! @ETC really helpful, thank you.

Good afternoon, I am after some advice on radon protection. The current proposal for my radon barrier is that I should have an edge bearing slab, as shown in the snip below. I would prefer a floating slab (easier and cheaper to construct). My BC seem to prefer an edge bearing slab too. Has anyone got a foundation detail for a radon barrier floating slab foundation? My house is going to be timber frame, so it is lightweight. The ground is reasonably firm clay, so there should be no problem with narrow trench foundations. Any advice would be gratefully received. Kim

Thank you very much @Gus Potter Lots to think about there

Hi All, I'm struggling a bit with how to manage my BC process. I have submitted a full plans application, but was unaware of a couple of things that should have been submitted with it (my fault). The reason that I submitted full plans rather than building notice is because the road that my property fronts onto has not yet been adopted (it will be in due course), so I assumed it classed as a private road. Firstly, can anyone advise about the "private road" issue? Secondly, if the "private road" thing is not an issue, can I withdraw the full plans application, which I am not ready to get approved, and resubmit as a Building Notice Application? and thirdly, do I have to wait until the full plans application is approved before I start groundworks? I am desperate for this not to hold up my build.

I'd like to also jump in on this thread; I have attic trusses, so technically have a 3 storey house. Where does the fire door have to go? My kitchen is at the rear of the property, my staircase at the front. Does the fire door go on the exit from the kitchen, hence protecting the stairs? Or does the door go on the staircase itself, between the first and second floors?

Did you ever get those photos @Sparrowhawk? That's the sort of colour I'm planning for my house, and I'd be interested to see what it looks like.

I am getting closer to planning permission being granted, and have been starting to get quotes in for my windows. The two that I am most likely to go with are NorDan and Rationel windows, aluminium clad timber, triple glazed. The quotes are looking fairly similar, around 30k for the windows and installation. My first question is whether that seems reasonable for a smallish house worth of windows, as per the schedule below. My second question is whether there would be scope for haggling here, and if so, how should I go about it? What reductions have other people achieved by haggling? Any advice would be appreciated 🙂

Wow! What an amazing building 🙂 Looking forward to following what you do with it.

It is part of the planning permission unfortunately. I suspect it is because there are several sites. We also must be complete in 2 years, which could be quite tough. There are a couple of other quite restrictive planning clauses; as Jilly says, it is probably because there are 9 plots on the edge of a housing estate and they don't want the site to look an eyesore.

Yes! That's what I thought, the best Christmas present ever... @JillyJilly sadly I'm not permitted to live on the site, which is a shame

OK, it seems that I was being overoptimistic back then about being "nearly there", but I have now finally completed! Excited & terrified in equal measures...

I grew rather a lot of scotch bonnets, far more than we could eat, and found chopping them up & scattering them around the garden worked well. I could tell when it was time to refresh them, as the cats ventured back in.

I used one for a while to deter cats. It was reasonably effective, but needed to be used in conjunction with other measures though, and I had to move it regularly. Took about 4 months of battling to finally stop them from using the garden as a toilet 😞

Thanks folks, that's interesting confirmation that he really is contributing to the heating. I'm guessing for passivhaus that sort if thing becomes important.

Sorry, another related question. Anyone know how much heat an average sized male generates? My partner seems to be as warm as a small plug in radiator, and I am wondering whether he would actually warm up a well-insulated room?

Yes... I'm not a great fan of home automation tbh, but I think there may be a couple of things that I have to do for planning permission. That's useful advice, but can I just ask about the switching issue - do you mean switch off the socket, rather than using the light switch, and if so, why?

I'm the SWMBO in my house 🙂

This is a really interesting thread. I'm still at the design stage of my house, and I am wondering what "quick wins" there might be to help reduce that base power load. One example that I was thinking of was a master off-switch for my office, so when I leave it at night I effectively switch everything off at the plug. What are the other things that you would design in if you had a chance?

@jack Thank you for your comments 🙂 The design was specifically for the plot, and tailored to suit the orientation. I have posted it on here, and I shall be interested to see what the comments are - it may all change, particularly if there is something that I haven't thought of! It is a serviced plot with Planning Permission, but I will clearly have to make sure that I get the Conditions approved. As soon as contracts are exchanged on the plot I will put in the assumption of liability, before I submit the application to clear conditions. Hopefully I have got that in the correct order?

Yes, I know what you mean, I have just had a 6 month + wait for probate on my plot, and I have really lost enthusiasm and momentum over that time 😞 I am still a bit stop / go, as we haven't exchanged contracts yet, so it still isn't definite.