Moonshine

@Ferdinand sorry saw this late, as stated above this is polyester insulation, and is porous insulation, and will do its job for absorbing sound energy in that cavity space. It is just a smidgen worse performing as mineral wool or glass fibre (of same thickness and density), but not enough to warrant changing it out, so i suggest just leaving it there. what is the noise that you are trying to get rid of, water flow noise in those pipes? consider using a mass loaded pipe lagging to attenuate the noise from those pipes if that is the issue (e.g. superlag, UTUBE).

Our proposals are that the closest rear facade is 7.75m from the rear boundary, and steps back to 9m to a taller section of the proposed house. The only habitable room / clear glazing on the first floor of the proposed house is on the rear facade which is 9m from the boundary, all other windows at first floor at the rear are bathrooms with obscured glazing. There are no habitable rooms / clear glazing on the facade facing of the existing single storey house to the rear, facing the new house, so min distance distance of 22m between habitable rooms isn't needed which is mentioned in the LPA SPD. I can't see anything in the LPA SPD, so it think that its going to be on the 'case by case' basis that if that one first floor window located 9m from the boundary causes an issue of overlooking to a garden area. That said, looking at google maps, i can see loads of detached houses (old and new build) in the local area that have a at least one habitable room first floor window 9-10m from the rear boundary, and ground floor window <7m from the rear boundary. I also think that it will be a factor how that particular neighbour responds during the consultation.

What are those rules of thumb in relation to first floor habitable windows and boundaries? PD seems to imply this is 7m. Is there any other guidance?

From what i have read (1) there is no time limit, (2) it is negated if any extension is agreed for a date after the 26 week period. This has to be a written agreement between the applicant and the LPA. An interesting thing i have been told by a planning consultant i know, is that you can agree an extension, but if that extension date is within the 26 week period, and they still miss the 26 weeks without a agreed further extension over the 26 weeks, then the refund is still valid, though i think i need a second opinion on that one. I spoke to my architect this morning, and this refund issue was a new one on him as he has never had a planning app go on this long, and the LPA currently haven't asked for an extension.

Interesting to see that the 26 week period does not apply unless a longer period has been agreed in writing between the applicant and the local planning authority (source https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fees-for-planning-applications#Planning-Guarantee). This to me means that even if the agent (e.g. the architect) without written agreement from the applicant says yes to an extension, the 26 week period is still valid. My understanding is the only way to agree an extension is the LPA must have confirmation from the applicant, not by their agent.

I would suggest waiting for an outcome, and only reclaim back if it is refused, and there is no chance of any development going ahead, otherwise i think that you may be cutting your nose to spite you face. Though i watch with interest as my application may end up being 26+ weeks from validation to decision.

The second pass in the first video makes me think of Catch-22!

personally no, i would suggest that you ask for clarification.

My reading of that is that it is no digging of a hole (groundworks) for the foundations to go into. Also do you know if that specification of foundation is suitable for the site and ground conditions its going on?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49337756 Guilty

Check inclusions and exclusions, I bet that figure does not include ground works and foundations.

Do you think that Is this the cause of my hypnagogic jerking my wife complains about?

Round this way, minimum GIA's for 1 bed 2 person flats are about 50m2. unless that house has a GIA of ~200m2, which it doesn't look like it has, four flats as you indicate, would be a squash.

Party walls and floors thickness - these will have to be considered / beefed up to meet the minimum requirements of Approved Document E for airborne and impact (floors) isolation. Also factor in that come near completion you will likely have to have sound tests done, unless you go down a Robust Detail route.

I looked at those but thought they would take up too much space, then looked at the bolt down solution (though i am still at the planning stage) https://www.forterra.co.uk/bison-precast-concrete/retaining-walls/the-standard-range/2-5m-retaining-wall These are about £300 - £350 + VAT a pop, without the installation or associated materials. @EverHopefull don't worry there is usually a solution, but takes a bit of digging to find the right one which is cost effective. Just think about the poor developer & SE that got faced with this challenge!

tbh the initial design for the house was a modern take on the surroundings incorporating some features, which the planners didn't like a half measures hybrid (although the officer indicated that they did initially). Their view was either build exactly the same, or their preference go contemporary and go for it. So with the switch to a contemporary house design is a new thing, and tbh not sure how its going to sit in the site. Hopefully my architect can come back with something that works for the site, works with the site constraints, and looks good.

Agree on that, and makes for a very nice design. @Pete please tell me there is a roof terrace at first floor, obscured to the neighbours due to the side walls.

@JSHarris may have some figures as if i recall correctly he did a 40m wall, that was circa 2.5m http://www.mayfly.eu/2013/07/part-eight-the-wall/

Options on sound insulation are like arseholes, every one has one.

Planning factors have come into play, that mean it may be advantageous to build a contemporary house, rather that a more traditional style. I am not a massive fan of contemporary houses and too many of them look like a white cube, with a bit of wooden cladding stuck on to break up the white. Anyone got any views on what features add to make a contemporary house stand out, rather than just another white washed cube. I suppose bit will be easier to build ?

Depends on the rainfall rate, i have done a fair bit of assessment of rain noise while is aus, as they use metal roofs a lot. The CSR red book has some advice and rainfall reduction values based on a number of metal roof build ups.

It may not be on the top of your list, but you may want to consider rain noise and if you are concerned about it, to control it. Though if its a holiday house it may add to the ambience

When it comes to sound insulation, a dense block work wall will always out perform a lightweight wall at low frequencies for a similar thickness of wall. However you can get some high overall sound insulation with stud work (staggered stud), and better high frequency performance, with a slightly thicker wall. If services are an issue with block, there is no reason why you can't batten off the block 20-50mm to create a services void and plaster board fixed to the battens. And if you were battening off and sound insulation was key, you could always fill the cavity with insulation and resiliently mount the plaster board

From the plans it looks like you have a big sewer run (C / 225 / VC) going across the plot, and definitely close to it (< 50m) I don't know where you are building on that plot, and SW water probably don't either, also they probably don't know exactly where the sewer is on the plot either. Therefore i think they want you to confirm exactly where the sewer actually is (though ideally they would know), and get BC to confirm that its not within 3m of where you are proposing to build. Seems reasonable...

So i got an update to say the planner, after consultation with the department, they now don't like the design, particularly a few elements and the massing. They have offered a meeting to discuss, which hopefully will happen in the next couple of weeks.