Moonshine

Oh, any idea where the 10% is from? Any guidance on the subject?

Umm, looking at it I may want to put some part of a drive way / parking space in the Rpz, is this acceptable? Assuming the ground isn't dug out (much) and is a permable surface for drainage?

I have just learnt about root protection zones, and this may be an headache in relation to my site, but not a show stopper. I may have to change layouts around. The tree in question is not mine and so can't do anything about it. Does any one have any experience of these and does it mean you can't do anything in these zones, or can you do anything to a certain depth. Are they in force for all trees or just ones with TPO?

i would agree and wall stone looks dated already! though on the plus side you will soon have a visit a tin man, lion,and scarecrow! Sorry no solution i can think of

the main thing you want to look at when comparing 'acoustic' plasterboard is the surface density (kg/m² ), the higher the number the more mass it has and better it performs and a mass barrier From what i can see 12.5mm GTEC dB is 10.2 to 10.7 kg/m² , and 15mm is 12.5 to 13.1 kg/m². other boards as below; Gyproc wallboard 12.5mm - 8.0 kg/m2, 15mm - 9.8 kg/m2 Gyproc fireline 12.5mm - 9.8 kg/m2, 15mm - 11.7 kg/m2 Gyproc SoundBloc 12.5mm - 10.6 kg/m2, 15mm - 12.6 kg/m2 Gyproc plank 19mm - 15 kg/m2 Gyproc SoundBloc F 15mm - 14.1 kg/m2 Knauf Soundshield 10mm - 8.4 kg/m2, 13mm – 12.3 kg/m2 Knauf Standard Wallboard 15mm - 10.2kg/m2 Knauf Vapour Panel 15mm - 10.2kg/m2 Knauf Moisture Panel 15mm - 10.2kg/m2 Knauf Sound Panel 12.5mm - 10kg/m2 Knauf Fire Panel 15mm - 12kg/m2 Knauf Impact Panel 15mm - 12.8kg/m2 Knauf Soundshield Plus 15mm - 12.8kg/m2 Knauf Performance Plus 15mm - 12.8kg/m2 Knauf Plank 19mm - 14kg/m2 Knauf Core Board 19mm - 16.3kg/m2 So between 15mm GTEC dB, Soundbloc, and Knauf Soundshield Plus, the GTEC dB is marginally more dense, but if you go for Gyproc SoundBloc F you get a bigger increase.

i can't do it, as the ground slopes away to the north, at first floor the only facade which is level with the ground is the southern facade.

tbh not something that i haven't really done an detailed analysis on, other than looking for it to be a family home though does have a smallish garden. Something to do some work on! fair point The area between the kitchen and dining does seem a bit of a 'no mans land', due to the slight narrowing of the space limited by the stairs, however i think that this can be partly be used as a useful area with a book case or cabinet on the southern wall, and why i took the middle window out to allow full height usage. In the case of an adult supervising and visual connect with young children while doing meal prep, i don't think that is a big issue as the living room area can be divided off (glazed by fold doors), and really young children (0-2) could be set up playing in 'no mans land' on the floor / activity area. Slightly older children (2-4) can be sat at the dining table, doing crafts, writing etc. 4+ would have the freedom of the house to cause mayhem and mess (mine do!). Though in regard to the visual connect, if meal prep areas and activities are laid out in the kitchen in the south west corner (just to the right of the breakfast bar), this would allow easy viewing of most of the dining room area. The plus about having the dining area slightly at a distance from the kitchen, is you would be able to see the kids and not necessarily be bombarded by the noise of them not really what i as going for, as an architect can you define what you mean by a Barrett number, small and boxy trying to cram to much in? Cheers

@AliG again thanks for your input, the WC off the hall is better and makes more usable wall space and area in the kitchen. The bedroom / study is getting a bit small but should be just o.k. I could move the WC and separating wall upwards, however i think that a tall combined fridge freeze would fit just north of the WC which would be good In terms of windows i have removed the middle window on the south facade, and made the kitchen window wider, allowing for a two person breakfast bar below, looking out to the garden. Also i have added another window to the east, to get some morning sun into the kitchen / dining. I haven't gone for a separate door to the lounge at the moment but could be added if the room in roof doesn't work out.

@AliG i was interested in your proposals as there was some significantly different ideas, and i have drawn up your suggestions, and i think that it does work pretty well. I have put a quarter turn at the top of the stairs to save space and moved them to the front door a bit more. This arrangement allows for the option of the room in roof as the stairs will still fit (with a quarter turn at the bottom), but the corridor now also goes to the first floor bedroom / study. Also in the case that there is no room in roof the front area where the second stair would be could be utilised as a small open office area with computer desk. I have put a fold-able partition in between the kitchen and dining, just to allow some segregation of the space. Downstairs i have done the walk in wardrobe, and have made the cupboard at the back bigger to be a shared laundry and storage space, however i think that the boiler is going to have to go in the kitchen as much easier to deal with flue requirements. It now feels like there is a lot of space that is well utilised, but the livingroom / dining room seem odd. I If the room in roof option is a goer for two bedrooms, i might cull the back half of the ground floor to save on the costs of ground works and retaining walls.

I replied to the email i got yesterday, to ask when the latest pre-app to be validated and allocated an officer, was actually submitted to hopefully get a gauge on timescales. Hopefully i will get something positive back.

There is a plan to as an option, but at this stage I haven't shown it on the drawing depending on planning response to ridge hieghts.

Some very interesting suggestions @AliG and especially the room running down the south facade, with extra room on the dining area. I will have a look at this as an option! Nice idea on the in built wardrobes running down the bedroom separating wall. Yeah the bay window is old fashioned and not straight forward, however the external look reflects the area and hopefully the planners see it being more acceptable.

It's not the opposite issue, it's having 3 doors in close proximity on a landing, and I am mistaken as this is only a M4(3) requirement, so I could do as you suggested and have them opposite.

See above ? The upstairs corridor is to allow a room in roof option (tbc) to get another flight of stairs in. If the room in roof option is a none starter due to planning ridge, then can shift the stairs and put toilet at front from kitchen / dining

I don't think I can go over a 10m wide house on the site, so those rooms are limited in size once you take out .65m for external walls and 2.2m for internal corridor and walls. I would love to get them wider but don't don't think I can. I have a min ceiling hieght of 2.45m so hopefully doesn't feel closed in, internal floor allowance is 250mm so may be able to raise ceilings if I can slim down the floor build up. If the walls around the corridor are structural masonry the joists don't need to span that far and maybe smaller. The upstairs corridor is to allow a room in roof option (tbc) to get another flight of stairs in. If the room in roof option is a none starter due to planning ridge hieght, then this can go and space used better. Yeah the family bathroom needs work! Will do some sections tomorrow.

I don't think that i can move them directly opposite, as i seem to recall there is a 300mm / 800mm spacing requirement in Approved document M for doors to a landing, thought they could get closer. Thanks, good shout on the solar tube, that would help that area The loo at first floor? yes you are right that cupboard can go back wards to make the wall flush with the en suite, but in that space i think i would put a washing machine / tumble dryer in (to free up space in kitchen), and maybe the boiler at higher level in the redundant space behind the cupboard

I have put together an indicative house design that went into my (now delayed pre-app), as attached. Note this is not a self build for me, but one that i could build and sell. I might take this design as one possible option to an architect, and also to get their ideas too, and develop for a full planning application, but I would be appreciate some input to see if there is anything obvious that is crap design or could be improved. Some points about the design; The overall style is a 1930 house and have tried to pick up elements of the existing house in the proposed external build, with the roof pitches and bay windows matching the existing house. The house is going on a sloping site, hence why there are no windows doors on the southern facade at ground level (see section) The upside down layout is to have the living areas open out into the garden which is on first floor level to the south. The long thin rooms on the first floor at designed like that to get the most of the sun from the southern facade. I am concerned the hallway will be too dark as i have put a small WC on first floor, which would be the most ideal place to put a big window to light up the hallway, i would want a WC on first floor and not sure where else i could put it. The ground floor en suite would be sized for a wheelchair user, i am thinking M4(2) requirement. There is an odd alcove in the bathroom (left as you come in the door), which i think that i would put a washing machine / tumble dryer in (to free up space in kitchen), and maybe the boiler at higher level. Given the roof pitch and height there is space to put a room in roof (not sure whether or not to show it at this stage of planning), but i have allowed for insulation at pitched roof level and a stair upwards, this would mean i could put two bedrooms up there, and maybe a en-suite, this would free up the ground floor and mean that i wouldn't have to dig into the slope at ground floor by circa 2m. The first floor window on the east facing facade looks crap and i should move it to line up with the ridge line Do you think that this type of drawing would be good enough for a full planning application, and any comments on the design? Proposed House design.pdf

True, though i haven't wasted the time, i ended up learning sketchup and making a 3D model of the whole site and surrounding area and houses, which mean i have some really good cross sections and street scene images that give context to the site and the proposals.

livin' the dream!

I should add that, i spoke to a couple of architects and planners about the site and the possibilities of development and they all indicted that pre-app was the way to go, a couple said that based on the drawing i had put together already at the time as they would be enough to pre-app, and they could contribute and build on the pre-app response.

My site has got a history, and there has been 3 applications in for an additional dwelling on the site in the last 25 years, one was granted (the earliest one) and two subsequent ones refused (one went to the inspectorate and refusal was upheld). I believe what i am now proposing is significantly different than those and a better fit to the area, and I wanted to get a steer from the council of my scheme about some key issues before progressing. I guess the only way to really test it is to do the full application!

No its free, and that is partially why i could stomach the wait time, with a bit of being at the bottom of the pile etc, however i can't work with an open ended response time. At this stage i am free-styling, with the hope to be able to have open conversation with the council on what they would and wouldn't like to see, and using this information get an architect on board with a more defined scope. In fact i have actually done a fair bit of drawing in the 11 weeks and have a fairly developed scheme that i figured would be good as an indicative scheme rather than rough areas 2D on a site plan. I suppose i could put this in for a full application, however I probably need an architect to go over it to make sure i haven't made a big cock up, and put in something that isn't going to work, or could be done better. I was half expecting the pre-app to not come back smelling of roses, but at least it would be something to work with!

Just need to vent, appologies. I was advised by the council that i could submit a pre-app for comment, but was warned there was a backlog and i was looking at 12 weeks waiting time. O.k that's annoying, but i figured i could wait that time (its a free service), and bit the bullet and submitted, 11 weeks ago...... Yesterday i phoned the planning dept as i wanted to submit some further information, and was told on the phone that there was case officer for it and to email it directly them, excellent i thought things are moving, and submitted yesterday. This mornings reply from the named 'case officer' is that actually there is no case officer assigned at all, and full applications take priority, and they cannot state when they will be able to respond to my pre-app. Further they then indicate that i need to submit a full application in order to discuss any issues or concerns with my proposal (which they would do promptly). Basically i feel that i have wasted 11 weeks in the planning system, just to be told that i should have just submitted a full application, and more importantly not have had any chance to discuss my proposals with the council and be collaborative with them about it, and get their comments early doors rather than just submitting a full developed scheme, that they haven't has some input into! yes, I could submit outline planning, but the cost is pretty much the same than a full application and i don't think it would really help matters.

oh god, this stuff! not exactly the greatest fan of it, though reading the data sheet and gave me a chuckle on a Monday afternoon!

My opinion is reslient bars are a bit over kill in a domestic floor, and will provide 1-3dB in airborne sound insulation from memory, I can dig out the data on it later. If you are concerned about bounce the resilient bars won't really help that, as they are flexible themselves On site I have actually seen a developer counter baten under the joists to firm up the floor flex, and would give you something to hold the insulation in as above.