Bluebaron

Has anyone contracted a builder for shell only? Im looking at getting a builder in to get me from plot to roof on. Im happy to take over for windows/doors and internals. I’m wondering if this would cost a lot more than getting it done separately. Basically I could arrange for a groundwork’s company then try and find a bricklaying team and scaffolding. Then finally a carpenter and roofer but I assume a builder would have good local contacts and therefore could negotiate better prices than me and even with his “bit on the top”, this would work out broadly similar?

anyone have any idea what the cost of water credits are in order to make my development 'water neutral'?

Yes I mentioned that and he didn’t seem bothered and said that would get sorted at building regs stage. 🤷🏻‍♂️ he’s forgotten the door to the garage but it going to be in the utility. Ill go for a flat at the back and probably lose the roof light in the utility or maybe all three. whats the minimum size for the w? ive seen loads smaller only thing is a larger door which should fit in that wall. Ive played with the FF the designer says it wont work for the left hand bedrooms but I’ll get him to look again once we have planning.

I’ve had some changes made to the original design. Ideally I am trying to get the en-suite to the front of the house to get better use of the hallway. My designer said he was unable to make it work with the left hand bedrooms. Also I have a super-king bed (2100mm wide) so the main bedroom is quite narrow and can’t fit tables in and have to go with a pocket door. I’m sure with some thought this can be sorted but we’ve parked it for now and decided to go for planning rather than get hung up on internals. I’m also a little concerned that having the boiler/plant so far from kitchen area may affect warm up times? Thanks for advice everyone.

Sounds like you might get quite a bit of moisture in there the vent of the window may help a bit or it might be worth considering a fan?

Example of neighbour with extension.

The site plan above was actually the first draft but takes a lot of the rear garden up. the reason for the front design was to fit in with the street scene. It’s all 3 bed 1950’s semi’s. A few people have added a side extension and that effectively what I’m doing but with a new detached house. it would seem to make more sense pushing the side boundary as it’s the end of the road next to a local park so I can go right up. The site plan above wastes a lot of outside space to the back left.

The garage would be mainly for storage and my motorcycle. My current garage is 2200mm wide and works fine. This would be 900mm wider. most people don’t use garages for cars anymore but a quick google search would suggest people wouldn’t buy a house without one. (Excluding inner cities maybe). My mother-in-law converted hers to a dining room years ago and has forever regretted it. Loss of storage for a room she uses a few times a month at most. im at the end of a cut-de-sac so entry/exit shouldn’t be a concern.

site plan

Thank-you all for your input. I can see the benefit of getting rid of the garage but is a small plot and apart from maybe a small shed there not much room for storage. i'm also not sure if for resale-ability people would want no garage for, say a dining room or second lounge? It would be a fairly easy conversion project if someone wanted that? Pretty much the RHS is for K/D/L. Are you saying make it more open plan? I'll probably live here for 3-5 years, I'm going for a 3 bed/3 bath (left hand bedrooms will be one). I thinking now to turn the stairs to gain more downstairs hallway space and for the WC. I am conscious that the hallway upstairs is wasted space i've had my guy amend slightly but still not right IMO. Assuming all the windows stay the same position anyone ideas for better layout?

Thanks for feedback. North is to the left, font is west facing. boiler/plant could go in the utility or garage? stacking WM is good idea, thanks. i may turn the stairs and could put the wc to the left of the front door. haven’t thought about insulation/building regs yet. But could maybe go flat roof although a pitched roof does have a nicer/softer look. I need a garage and no room on plot for external. Not sure what K/D/L is?

First draft came through on may self build. In general it's where i want to be but some feedback would be appreciated. In particular not sure on the dining table area, it's an odd shape to maximise internal area. Upstairs i've lost a small front central bedroom to get natural light in hallway and made the whole upstairs left hand side two bedrooms instead on one large master suite. Im guessing this would be better or saleability (4 bed 2 bath over 3 bed/3bath. If i did decide to make the whole upstairs LHS 1 room ideas for ensuite/wardrobes keeping window placement at front and rear. Thanks

Yes thanks for advice everyone. I was looking at ripping the trees out I’m now exploring ways to maybe keep one hence my question. The tree is already over 25m tall with a 1m+ diameter.

Ok that’s sounds good then, I did wonder as nothing in any planning documents I’ve seen said it can’t be done without proper consideration to the new build and the tree itself.

Ok probably best if I reword. has anyone built less than 6m from a large tree? Don’t care about cost etc just can it /has it been done . Everything on google talks about RPA and deep foundation, I know about all that. I just need to know if the planners will allow it with suitable workarounds etc. Thanks