Ferdinand

At this point anyone will just be guessing - too many variables, and everything could change either way. If anyone gives you a number, there will be an error margin of half to double on it, at least. Ferdinand

I don't know the answer to that without researching it, I am afraid.

Does that mean that some cisterns have an internal adjustment or an alternative float? Or can the float be adjusted appropriately in some circumstances?

Commonsense says it would need to exceed it with an error margin ?. Even when blocked, I have yet to see a loo overflow from one flush, and there has usually been space for the extra water in a small bucket dispensed whilst standing on a stool for "maximum impulse", without too much of a tsunami. F

Isn't that just a traditional loo? Perhaps available from an architectural salvage firm. Another alternative for @Tennentslager may be an American Loo, which I think have larger flush volumes. I would probably suggest phoning up a loo manufacturing company and asking to be put to the technical support team. I did that when I was trying to identify loos with spare seats available (like M&S used to sell you an extra pair of trousers with your suit). I got good advice from Ideal iirc - at least I now have 2 Ideal loos, and 2 spare seats. Ferdinand

I think I would like to say a couple of things there. For long term considerations. 1 - I think your driveway width may be your most significant hard policy constraint. 2 - Is there a danger that the Council will just say "Backlands Development", and kick it out on its ear? That could be a policy question, but also depend on how tightly the particular Councils stick to that policy. Potentially a very important issue. Needs to be resolved, as you know. 3 - Even were I planning only to build one, I would form my plans to leave space such that another could be added later - either as an annexe or a separate dwelling (or an annexe that could be converted later). There are imo 2 reasons for doing that: a - Financial future. If your pension evaporates, as a chunk of mine did at one point, you have a possible remedy. Having something that can give you a boost of 10s of k could be a strong item of buried treasure should you need it. if someone needs somewhere to live, you have something which can be potentially utiliised. b - If it helps you get PP. If the Council write it off as backlands, then putting an extra property or two on there (which you don't necessarily have to build - though there may be other considerations for demonstaarting completion for VAT etc) may put it into a different category in Planning eyes, and help you (eg a minor development or cul-de-sac). In that case your entrance width will matter - but matter somewhat differently in every place. It is all a balance, but I thought that deserved a mention. Ferdinand

I think it needed doing physically. 1st time since install about 4 years ago. A veritable personal fatberg cum hairball. It's also another house arrest educational experience. Perhaps my first plumbing victory. Just been out for flour and niger seeds, and past three of our local Aldis to check busyness. They all seemed to have queues of about 6-10 waiting to enter, so clearly all operating limit on people inside. I have a fresh fruit n veg shopping list for later when really quiet or tomorrow. Just off for daily bike ride, and I will see if the horse-in-isolation is still there.

That was the first program that every architect I knew wrote on their BBC Micro ?.

Thanks Peter. Took the top of. Ew. The pipe is now in mild bleach. F

Can I just confirm how to clean out the plug on the left ... it is my shaving sink so has hair and bits in it. I have done the trap Ok. Do I just pull it off where the black ban’ is (o ring?) with a catching bowl below, or is there a trick to this? I am the world’s original plumbing hater. Ferdinand

This is what is normally thought of chalet-style. The one you posted would be a semi with a roof extension.

Concentration. Just emptied an entire packet of coffee into the cafetière not the caddy, as I was thinking about bird boxes. Birdbrains, more like. Pah.

Yes - do well with those, even though I are near the town centre,

I think that some BHers might want to consider swift boxes, which strike me as interesting and elegant. http://actionforswifts.blogspot.com/p/diy-swift-box-designs.html http://actionforswifts.blogspot.com/search?q=%23triangle You can also improve the response by wiring up a call generator.

There are several bird box designs around that use a single plank of wood most efficiently. Apols if already linked. eg https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-families/family-wild-challenge/activities/build-a-birdbox/ I miss our swifts that used to do circuits round next door's lime trees chasing insects. No pollarded, which means my pv gets more sun, but still missed.

Have you considered an owl box? I seem to remember that you are near the right sort of land.

I thought bird boxes were reckoned for 'next spring' usually. And for your garden - as for mine -- there may not yet be enough cover. Which reminds me I need some niger seeds for the finches which have not yet appeared.

Oooops. Did not remove it quickly enough.

No one has asked, so I will. Is this the Sussexlogs' runway? Or the Overlooked by Sussexlogs runway? ?

Let me see if I can find a couple of useful thoughts. I've read the Appeal Decision, and a number of docs from the original application (not all 36), including the D&A, and the Planning Officer report. I can't find a dimensioned plan of the existing house or plot; I may have missed it. I think your Design and Access document does not address these concerns sufficiently, rather it is a list of statements - it needs a planning argument (is that in a document I missed?). It provides an argument based on your build, but does not address the planning policy concerns expressed by the Council in terms understood by the Council. I think the Appeal Report is quite short because the Inspector felt that the couple of concerns he mentioned sink it, but any future application would need to address the points in the Council report too. The Council had clear planning grounds for rejection, so the Inspector has only gone into it far enough to establish his verdict (that is normal). To be honest, I agree with them on the rejection, because the App does not make a convincing planning argument imo, and - if I have understood what happened correctly - not meeting the full procedural bat report requirements of the Natural Wales body (or whatever it is called), such as 3 occasions of survey not one, is fatal to an application. I accept that I could be wrong on that last point if it has been addressed via docs I have not read. Your application was rejected for reasons architectural, and also for some details that are actually procedural. The importance of the streetscape is in rhythm and appearance, as it is a ribbon development on a route from the community. It is not a question of being just generally acceptable; the Council want some features to be regular, repeated well, because that row of houses set the backbone of the street pattern. If you had that bungalow they then may have been adaptable; as it is they wish to keep the rhythm of the housing row. It is my view that the Council want the roofs to be quite regular, and gaps between the houses, and the windows, to be similar. These were all mentioned in the documents for the Committee, but at ground level there seems to be variety. Some gaps have a garage; but some others have a wall or tree. The Assessment also mentions dreaded bat reports; you have one but they say it has not been done quite sufficiently. And so they say bats may still exist in your vicinity. I would say that this is what a Planning Consultant should have done. That is, discovered the requirements and addressed each of them one by one. So what can you do to fulfil the demands of the committee, whilst still building a pleasant dwelling for your family? Trying to be practical, I think: 0 - You are probably stuck with the roof and house size profile on the first floor upwards, and the width of the existing house. That likely means you are stuck with the existing footprint of the house except for maybe going backwards perhaps 50% on the ground floor. The external material and fenestration needs to be essentially unchanged - even maybe consider just putting skylights on the rear not the front. Though perhaps in-roof solar panels would be good on the front. I would also put the frontage of the dwelling on the building line, since that was mentioned. Can you establish whether the Council would have *any* flexibility on footprint, is you preserve the general "face" of the house? Even 1 or 2m in width may help. 1 - You could perhaps do a full width single storey 'extension' around the back, for a kitchen diner or whatever depending on the sun and so on. 2 - I think you should consider a full footprint basement. 3 - I think you could also consider a garden room for an office or a gym or a cinema room if these are in your requirements. 4 - I think you will need to consider your treatment of the side 5 - Find a treatment of the gaps between the houses that largely conceals your rear single storey extension, eg a 2m or 2.5m wall with an archway for your drive, or evergreen bushes etc. 6 - Is it possible to get an extra storey in the loft in the existing envelope but with a basement? You may also need a basic Planning Strategy. Since the Council objections are about the size and look, I would perhaps put in an applying for a Certificate of Lawful Development for extensions up to the same size and approx appearance as your intended final version under Permitted Development. That should help poleaxe any objections to something very similar when you apply for a newbuild, as Planning should not really be concerned too much with internal layout on a house that far from its neighbours. Then do a full planning app for a newbuild in the same building envelope. That is assuming that you come up with something that is Ok for your needs that meets those terms. Ferdinand Decision 3243827.pdf 19_1187_FUL--236970.pdf Current Proposed Elevations.pdf

I live in one of one type of these - a bungalow conversion done by the previous owner. My comment would be that you need to be *sure* that a chalet style house meets your requirement wrt fabric quality, as they are awkward to do major changes to upstairs and around the roof and windows. That says do the conversion of a wreck yourself, or get one that you know will meet your needs for a considerable periods with only minor works. Don't mess with Mr Inbetween. If you get a restored or renovated one, make sure it is renovated to modern enough standards that you are happy for the next decade. Compare them to current building regs for example, ask to see heating bills, take heat images and compare it to the similar neighbours, that sort of thing. It goes without saying that you need to develop a reasonable graps of what the cost of necessary renovations are in blood and treasure. In particular don't pay restored-house money for one that needs major work, but I am sure that is the plan and is easy to say. If you get a chalet style house in Zermatt, we will all come and visit you ? . Ferdinand

I think the Appeal System in Wales stops at that point, unless a Minister intervenes or you take them to the High Court. I think you are into a new application to meet the Council concerns, or a change of plot. F

Yes it is you. ? But have you tried to cancel your expensive order.

Slightly ouch, but their prices are usually OK. They have an ebay operation here: http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/Ron-Currie-and-Sons-Ltd which may have a different price structure, but that online shop is currently not operating.

My local merchant who have a big online and ebay operation are delivering and doing collection. https://roncurrie.co.uk/