flanagaj

Thanks for the reply, but you didn't answer my question. Is the 350k simply for the shell, or is the house complete internally and you are able to move in?

Is 350k your total spend for the 410m2, eg including all second fix?

I am looking at extending a property by an additional 120m2. My aim is to use individual trades to carry out the build and we only want the contractors to provide me with a first fix shell. I can then go in and second fix, hang doors, skirting, tile floors, plumb bathrooms and manufacture the kitchen (use to be a cabinet maker), but I am confused at to what the figure of £1500 to £2000 m2 actually means and whether given what my intentions are, whether I would still expect to pay this amount, or whether the figure would be reduced. The main aim is to ensure that we have enough budget (currently 160k) to enable us to get everything done, move in and then use proceeds each month from wages to finish out the property. I have renovated a property before, and I am conscious that for less than 1k you can easily fit out an ensuite bathroom and make it look really tidy. Blowing mega dollar is a false economy, as the most important point is how well the job is done. Thanks

Some really interesting points here. The tank is located at the bottom of the garden and there does not appear to be a stream, so it must just soak into the ground. Am I in my legal rights to purchase the property and mandate that they have to move the tank into their own property so that I can install a sewage treatment plant that services just the one property?

I have found a property that we really like, that has great potential for extension and renovation. The only sticking point, is that we have just found out from the survey that whilst we knew it had a septic tank, we have just discovered that the tank is also shared by two neighbouring properties. This has left me rather concerned and just wondering if anyone can offer any guidance as to what I should be doing next before making a decision as to whether to purchase or to walk away. Thanks

Sadly, there is nothing that has been done recently and the properties on the main road frontage are a mixed bag of design awfulness.

So the plot we are in the process of trying to secure has planning permission for a 4 bed property. I personally, think the design and interior layout is pretty naff. There is a 1960s chalet bungalow property next door and on the other side of a pedestrian walkway is a 1970s style development. Just wondering whether you could potentially get away with something more aesthetically pleasing on the eye and what basis the planners could refuse the revised application on? Ideally, we'd like something a little more contemporary than what has been granted.

interesting to understand what access is required to get a 2 bedroom static caravan on site. From the dimensions of them, it looks like you need a wide access path?

Ouch. It looks like a simple case of digging a large hole and putting it in the ground. How did they justify 17K given the units are 3-4k?

Having identified a plot, does anyone happen to know what web sites exist for identifying where the existing utilities are in the area so that you can get an idea as to what utilities are available and the rough cost of get them connected. Obviously, a 5 metre trench is going to be considerably cheaper than one 100m away. Thannks

We viewed one yesterday that had this problem. Have to use a Graf treatment plant solution as they don't want additional Nitrates being added to the River Test by connecting the house to the existing foul water system down the road.. The cost is about £3000 - £4000 for the plant.

I would like to know what figure / m2 you would be looking at if you were to literally move in after all first fix / plastering has been done. We would literally move in as soon as I have fitted one bathroom and put a cheap kitchen in and then do the second fix interior work using the proceeds of my wages. I would use a single builder for groundwork and up to plate height and then get individual trades for first fix roof ... I am fortunate that my nephew is an electrician and my brother in law a roofer, so could maybe save in that regard.

Hi All. So my wife and I have sold our house in Dorset and we are ear marked to purchase a property near Newbury (cul de-sac), but we are now reconsidering everything and wondering whether now is a good time to instead go into rented and try and find that elusive plot that has always evaded us. We have 350k equity for a plot and so long as it's within 1 hour of London via train we are pretty flexible regarding the location. I am quite fortunate that I am very practical and cut the roof, made the kitchen, plumbed and fitted bathrooms .... in out current property, so am hoping that we could save a fair amount if we can do a self build. My only concern at present, is whether more plots will come to market, or whether the market will simply just stagnate with people just sitting on plots until interest rates come down and normal service is resumed. Just wondering how others are perceiving the market at the moment and whether it is a good or bad time to be considering a self build. Thanks

Well said! Lockdown and furlough was an absolute disaster. That is why we now have 9% inflation. 99.9% of people had no cause to be worried about covid and we are now all paying the price for the policy response. Taping off outdoor gyms and not being allowed to buy certain good in the supermarkets, is absolutely laughable.

And that is the issue. So not sure how it would work.

It was mainly upstairs that I wanted the extension for.

I'd like to understand whether a planner could refuse simply because of how it would look relative to the other houses. They don't exactly look aesthetically pleasing on the eye as it is.

Can anyone provide any guidance as to the likelihood of being able to get planning permission for a two story extension of the property below. Basically, we are looking to infill the left hand corner to create a utility room and upstairs ensuite. The property is not in a conservation area, and the aerial view is as below. The plan would be to hopefully extend with a contemporary vertical clad based approach. Any pointers welcomed.

That's some really interesting points and ones that I will raise with the agent when I speak with them tomorrow.

It was granted a Application for a Lawful Development Certificate for an Existing use or operation or activity including those in breach of a planning condition. So looks like it was being used as a dwelling for 10 years and they got it granted on that basis.

Thanks Conor. There isn't anything to go on regarding recent planning in the area as it's a very small hamlet and quite a few of the properties nearby are listed. The image below shows the dwelling circled in blue and those which are listed in red.

I have spotted a small coach house https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135398666#/?channel=RES_BUY that is only 60 sqm, but it sits in a lovely location and has potential to extend. I am just wary of what I need to consider in determining whether it could be extended enough to make it 100 - 120sqm in size. The plot size is shown below (circled in red) and the current dwelling is circled in the smaller circle. Things I have noticed. 1) There is no frontage so could potentially extend on the side and the front? 2) The large tree to the left of the property does not have a TPO (checked on Berkshire interactive map), but wonder if that will be a problem if trying to get it removed to extend that side? 3) Property does sit within a conservation area. 4) The outbuilding is a garage, which burnt down and has planning for replacement (Planning Documents (westberks.gov.uk)) The other thing was whether you could do something very contemporary and join the two structures together and have a glass walkway between them? Would love to get people's thoughts on this one as I am keen to ascertain what possible reasons you could be refused planning to extend on.

I want to add a side extension to the garage. The extension sits on the gable end side of the garage and the garage resides at the back of the property. As I need an internal roof height of 2.5m (need that as it's going to be a gym room) I appreciate I will have to submit a planning application. I want to know whether that will then mean I have to comply with current building regs, eg 100mm insulation in the cavity. I was hoping to use 50 or 75mm insulation in the cavity so as to keep costs down. Thanks

I converted our under stairs area with pull out drawers. The runners are weight rated to 90Kg and allow the drawer to be opened fully. The drawer boxes I constructed were 800mm deep and it enables so much of the space to be used. The other great advantage, is that due to the space being enclosed it keeps really cool, so you can store food stuffs in there too. We find potatoes last so much longer as it's cool and dark. You can store beer in there and it's basically cool enough to drink.