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At last, after a huge amount of discussion and lots of 'what about this.....' we have decided on our final layout. Due to cost constraints, the windows are smaller than originally hoped for. As the rear of the barn has a low roof I have a ground worker coming on Sunday to look at digging down. The floor currently has 4 different levels, I want them all taken down to the lowest so we can basically start from scratch. We want UFH, but as the roof and ridge height are fixed by the LPA it will need to be slimline. At least the slope of the roof is south facing and there is lots of it so PV panels will be beneficial and should provide enough hot water. The ASHP will do the UFH. Only the cess pit, rainwater harvesting and utilities to still plan. I'm now focussing on exactly what we want in each room, last night I did the snug and that took 2 hours so a big task. But, I can't get proper estimates until we know what we want. I'm a bit vexed that I have received an invoice for the phase 2 contamination gas monitoring, soil survey and report, when it won't be finished until the end of the year. I said I wasn't happy and they just sent me the T&C's showing that I must pay for what has been done. It just seems odd that the total price is 5k and the invoice is for 4k, hardly a correct breakdown in my opinion. It seems to me that lots of costs are nothing to do with actually buying stuff and building. We've had 3 planning apps, structural surveys, 2 contamination surveys, possibly a remediation report and, of course, architects fees. And we still need structural designs, building regs, asbestos roof removal (luckily only a small bit of the roof), all before we buy anything that is part of the house. Any thoughts on the above layout, please go ahead.

To get PD for a class Q conversion we had to have a phase 1 walkover contamination survey. PD has been granted, but with a condition that we have a phase 2 survey. The company that did that phase 1 have quoted circa 5k including VAT for the survey and gas monitoriing. Does anyone know if I have to use the same company, or if I go elsewhere will they have to do their own phase 1 as well.

A condition of my planning permission is a Phase II land contamination report. Rather than an expensive report (I've been quoted thousands of pounds) the Environmental Protection Officer will accept bore holes and factual logs as long as I submit a Watching Brief. Begrudging paying any more fees, I want to do the Watching Brief myself, but does anyone know if the council will accept this?