Redoctober

Welcome and a very commendable project - let's hope you can get it up and running. As with anything new, the key to success and understanding has to be research. Start by reading some building magazines and the various threads and Blogs on this forum. It will open up many questions which you can then find the answers to, via various internet searches. Good luck PW.

Looks a great location - is that weather recent? - The task sounds and looks expensive! Lets hope it comes good for you when the paperwork is returned. PW.+

Unfortunately my day job took me to the scene today - saw the community coming together, the damage caused and had the unenviable task of talking to the survivors. Truly harrowing experiences - Home in the bosom of my family and cradling a large glass of Red. 30 years of dealing with death and destruction on a daily basis, and still the bar gets higher!! Appreciate those around you tonight and spare a thought for those sleeping in the various churches and sports centres. Goodnight PW.

2) Fleming Homes - again Scottish, however smaller, only make 70 homes per year, you deal directly with the MD once you place the order, and they do offer more in terms of erection, they do erect all internal stud walls. However they do not offer the internal joinery items. @SelfBuild South West we are using your Number 2 option No seriously, we are at the stage whereby they are applying for the Building Warrant on our behalf. We too looked at others but found the process can become a touch overwhelming when trying to compare things. In the end we visited the factory and liked what we saw and heard - at the end of the day, a decision has to be made. Hopefully the right one ! Anyway, we are more than happy with the service so far and the reasons why we went with them are because primarily, they are about 5 miles from the plot, we could cherry pick what we wanted them to supply, they offer a range of insulation options to suit various budgets and they also offer a service whereby they draw up building Reg. plans and secure the Warrant. Although we are not using the joinery options they have to offer, my understanding is that they could supply skirting, internal doors and stairs etc., if required. PW.

Take a look at this website - https://www.shiply.com/how-it-works never used it but you might find someone willing to transport your items, at a reasonable cost. PW.

Yes, this is certainly the case for us - we have to have the roof and external wall materials approved prior to commencement. It is interesting to note the possible lead times the Planning Departments require for such matters. That said, I have been in touch with ours ahead of such notification and they seem to be content with web links via e-mail as opposed to an actual site visit. This should assist us in cutting down any delays in seeking approval. PW.

Thanks @Nickfromwales for the clarification - PW

Thanks @joe90 - re-assuring to know the running costs are minimal but do you have UFH fitted ?

Sorry @Nickfromwales for what may sound a silly question but if the towel rad was linked to the wet system, servicing the UFH in the bathroom / ensuite, would that not be a beneficial use of energy, in order to dry the towels as opposed to switching on an additional source of energy, namely electricity? Or is it a case that if the towel rad was linked to the UFH, it would never reach a sufficient temp to actually dry them? PW.

Hi @Lucy Murray we too are developing in the Borders - see my blog - http://forum.buildhub.org.uk/ipb/blogs/entry/127-base-camp-finally/ Good luck with yours. PW.

Also in Scotland - paid £1480. PW.

This might assist in understanding what is required for UFH and screed upstairs. PW. UFH.pdf

You could always consider something like this, budget depending! http://www.parkingrevolutions.uk/?gclid=CPqzudTIy9MCFUwz0wods68Dsw PW.

Hi - although it seems you have plenty on your plate for now, you may wish to consider these when the time comes - http://www.greysartstone.co.uk/ PW

Hi Sarah and welcome to the forum - You are in the right place so no worries on that front. I'm sure others with more experience than I in this field will pop along in due course but in the meantime, have a read of the attached link - it might assist. https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/extension-planner/ PW.

Hi - not sure if this helps but we have recently purchased a plot of land which had been severed from a larger expanse of land - A Farmers field - Our Solicitor appears to have dealt with everything needed to inform Land Registry - see below - an extract of an email he sent to me explaining things - As your purchase of the property is the first time that the property will appear on the Land Register, then this could take quite some time. This is because the Land Register is based on the ordnance survey maps and these are not always up to date and accurate and they have to be checked over to make sure that the title, which is granted, conforms with the ordnance survey map.The Land Certificate is effectively a guarantee that you have an absolute title to the property and is backed by an indemnity from the Government. Once the Land Certificate is produced by Register House we will check this to make sure that it is accurate and let you have a copy. The plot was given a boundary by the Vendor and it was from these "boundaries" that we have since worked from and submitted. We never involved a Boundary Surveyor. Hope it helps PW.

WOW What a saga - well done for getting it in ahead of those new regulations - never heard that one before for a domestic build - "sprinkler system" I can see the benefits but to actually impose it upon new builds does seem a bit OTT - What is the general cost for such a scheme? I wonder if that will have any impact and what about insurance? Say they the tea towel left on the hob sets it off! Anyway, welcome aboard the fun bus! PW.

An interesting point and the whole MVHR issues is one I have been considering for some time. I have come to the decision not to install one. Although the house will be well insulated, we are not looking to be as air tight as others may expect and we do like to have the windows open. This appears not to be an issue for the reasons @JSHarris says, but for me, I just can't see the point of having a system running in the background which is, in all intents and purposes there to provide "clean" "healthy" air, in an air tight enclosure, and then have the windows open. Yes the "energy" used may be negligible but it is still wasted energy. Could it not just be turned off during the Spring / summer months? "Tin hat at the ready !" PW.

An interesting read and one which will no doubt be of use to many as they think about embarking on a similar journey. Thanks for taking the time to do it. PW.

@Triassic not just the window companies, I thought. We too were there yesterday and were struck by the lack of companies that we had seen in the past and who weren't there this time round. That said, we enjoyed it and were able to confirm various products for our project which is due to start in the next 12 months.

I have just undergone this process with our TF manufacturer. To have our "planning" plans converted into Building warrant drawings it cost us £2.5k. We then had to pay for the Building warrant itself and the Structural Engineers certificate. Yes, like most things I suppose, it could have been done cheaper but being first timers, with no knowledge or understanding of what was required and needing to satisfy Scottish regs, for us, it was a price worth paying - Peace of mind comes at a price! PW.

Thanks @ProDave, you are right, the location of your AVP is well positioned and is far more acceptable than what we are being asked to accept ! Plenty of information now in my domain to have a proper conversation - thanks. PW.

@ProDave, Thanks - yes it was obvious but I was referring to @Nickfromwales comment. Perhaps it was my clumsy explanation . Anyway, I'm grateful for the comments as I will certainly discuss these options when I speak with those about the drawings next week. Was it to do with the regs that the BC stopped you having an AAV positioned internally, or some other reason? PW.

@RichS yes we are in Scotland and I'm unsure at this stage what the regs are in respect of this issue - A durgo valve / Air admittance valve is something I was hoping for, so I will have to add this matter to the list of other queries I need to raise with those who drew up the drawings. Thanks for the suggestion. PW.

Thanks @Nickfromwales we will be installing a treatment plant from Bio pure as there is no mains sewage - We are some months away from the ground works starting so no major problems at this stage of the project - the drawings have been sent for our approval and sadly the SVP is an obvious eyesore. I will mention your suggestion to the company as I will @ProDave comment. I understand what @ProDave is suggesting but could you expand a little on yours, for the uneducated? Would a further plan of the bathroom and en suite layout assist? Thanks PW.