flanagaj

That is very nice! Love the galvanised guttering too. I'll keep this image to hand.

Fair point. Once we have exchanged then I am going to engage with an architect to see whether our ideas are viable. Just not sure how receptive the LPA will be to large scale changes.

One other point I forgot to mention surrounds the finished floor level. The PP obviously has proposed elevations, but when it comes to the finished floor level, is this something that is open to you to decide, or will the architect provide that information once a topographic survey has been carried out?

Thanks @JohnMo / @Russell griffiths some really useful information there. I am not too far from Swindon, so will definitely head up there.

So having had our offer accepted on a building plot with full PP, I have been researching like mad the whole groundworks stage and my head is spinning with questions. 1) Installation of septic tank and drainage field 2) Trench or Strip footings. How do you run the soil pipes through the concrete if you go trench fill. I understand that for strip you just use concrete lintels. 3) Installation of soak away 4) Beam and block OR just install the concrete slab with UHF straight away and be done with the the concrete / insulation / uhf / concrete layer approach 5) How will the soil pipes run to the septic tank and does the approach differ depending upon whether you go beam and block or solid slab floor. I have seen that with beam and block, the pipes simply run in the void under the beam and block floor. 5) What order are these things done. Does anyone know of a good resource for this stuff. I have the Housebuilder's Bible, but this does not really cover this stuff in much detail.

This is a new dwelling, and I currently only have the drawings used for the planning application. Stairwell is no problem as the ground floor has been designed so that the stairs enter into the upper floor space in the middle of the floor.

I am trying to work out from the drawing below. Where the floor level would be upstairs and how much head height is available. I think there is enough room to get a bedroom in the loft space, but not sure what size and headroom. Not sure if anyone with any knowledge might be able to provide an idea.

Looking at securing finance for our build, but want to understand what actually needs to be done to get a completion certificate and to then move onto a standard residential mortgage. We are quite tight on funds, but we are also fine if we move in and still need to tile floors, fit the additional bathrooms, utility room, exterior cladding. These are areas that I am completely comfortable doing myself and not only will it save us money, but also mean we can move in and tackle these jobs when time permits. Thanks

Any idea is better than no idea.

I too am interested in this. Does anyone have any experience of using estimators online, and if so, how accurate were the figures that they calculated. I was going to upload the drawings that were used for the planning application, as I need to get an idea as to what the expected spend will be.

The granted PP does not have a plinth

The granted PP on the plot we are purchasing has oak cladding with a lower brick section with no plinth. I personally, much prefer the plinth as shown in the image below, but conscious of a finite budget I have a feeling that this option adds a lot of expense? The brick plinths seem quite expensive.

When you say 80% of the plot purchase, you mean that I put down 70k (20% of 350k) and they will pay the additional 280k and then I can keep the 280k cash liquid so it can be used as and when, or am I missing something?

Build is 157m2 internal with a detached double garage. Budgeting around 2k / m2, but hoping my Brother in Law who has just completed his 280m2 build for just over £1200/m2 can help me. I am quite fortunate that plumbing / electrics / roofing / carpentry trades are available in the family.

So we have just had our offer accepted on a building plot with full PP. Super excited, as my wife and I have been looking for a plot for over 2 decades. Unfortunately, the plot purchase (350k) is going to completely clear us out (profit from the sale of our previous house) and we will not have any funds for the actual build. I am conscious that lenders do either 'in advance' or 'in arrears', but I wanted to ask whether there are any caveats to be aware of. We are looking to borrow 250-300k in total and we have been told that after completion a house in that area will be valued ~ 700k - 750k. Thanks

Haha. That's the first thing my wife said.

Thanks. So my worry of 10 - 20k has been somewhat alleviated

I did wonder whether that might be an option. Much better if it could be recycled and reused by somebody, rather than it just being destroyed.

About to offer on a plot that was a cattery business. Currently covers 220m2 of timber / construction. But I literally have zero idea what I am going to spend to have this demolished. I understand wood waste disposal has changed from Sept 2023 and as a result, not sure this can be disposed of in a conventional skip. Should I budget 10k - 20k for having this all removed?

I really want to have underfloor heating and a polished concrete floor, but I am struggling to understand the stages to accomplish this. Can anyone shed some light as to the various layers and at what point in the build you do them. For example, I was under the impression it was hardcore / sand blinding / membrane / insulation / underfloor heating pipes clipped to insulation / slab / screed. So for a polished concrete floor, you just pour a deeper slab (omit the screed layer) and then get it power floated, before grinding it according to the desired finish. But when I look online, I see images of the pipes sitting above a concrete slab?

Can I ask one other question. If PD rights have been removed, will that also mean that I will be unable to erect an outdoor studio / shed. I wasn't sure whether a garden studio is classed as permitted development.

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions. Knowing that the loft conversion with roof lights post build is an option for the third bedroom is really helpful, and means that offering on the plot is a viable option.

Sorry if I am being vacant, but are you saying that after building the property as specified in the granted PP, installing a bedroom with roof lights would be allowed or are you saying that they have refused that PD right?

Just reading the decision notice, and it does mention the following. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any Order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification) no building, structure or other alteration permitted by Classes AA or B, Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Order shall be erected on the application site. REASON: To prevent the overdevelopment of the site in the interests of the visual amenity of the area and to safeguard the character of the local landscape, in accordance with Policies EM1 and EM10 of the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2011-2029.

Can a VoC be refused, and how can I find out whether PD rights have been removed, as that would most likely be a deal breaker.