Search the Community

Hi everyone, Just a quick introduction to our project - we're doing our first self build and will be project managing ourselves. We've got lot's to learn as we go, and so would love to connect with others who are also along the journey or recently completed. If you're interested in following our journey, we're documenting everything on instagram which has plans and more; our profile is here: @thefoxesmaltings Below is a 3D render our architect produced of our project. If anyone has questions on any part of our process so far (securing planning in an AONB/Green belt etc.) feel free to ask and we'll help if we can.

Hi all, Hoping I could share some more detailed info of the project we're just embarking on and also request for some general self build advice from more experienced individuals. We're a couple in our late-twenties and have finally got into a position to undertake a self-build. The project is a Paragraph 79 approval in the Lincolnshire Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The goal is to reinstate the historical context of our site; where a malthouse was once present in the 18th century. The overall footprint is approx 400sqm and we are adopting passivhaus principals and eco technologies (PV, ASHP, UFH, Battery Store). There is no mains gas/drains and so we'll be using a sewage treatment plant. We've thought about other technology such as rainwater harvesting, but are thus far unconvinced. Enjoying reading through all the posts on here already - it's great to hear people recommending products, suppliers and also sharing DIY tips. I'll be project managing the entire build myself with everything already budgeted. The aim is to 'simplify' getting the build to watertight stage by minimising the amount of companies and trades involved; groundworkers for foundation, package timber frame company for the superstructure, window & door supplier and roofing contractor. - Not awarded any tenders as yet, so any recommendations for all aspects would be appreciated. Our thought process is that once it is watertight, we can (somewhat) move in and tackle the rooms one by one with individual trades and DIY. For anyone on Instagram, we've started to keep a diary of progress - https://www.instagram.com/thefoxesmaltings/ As a newbie self-builder, I've read 'The Housebuilders Bible', by Mark Brinkley, which I found fairly informative, particularly when it comes to the foundations and superstructure; of which we have no hands on experience with. Aside from that, I'm generally pretty hands on with experience in renovating. In addition to this, I'm looking for recommendations on accompanying books, resources and any individual pieces of advice which you think would help, and perhaps you wish you knew before starting your self build? Hopefully this doesn't sound like one of those Grand Designs episodes... Thanks. G

We've just completed a new build "house for life" - it started as "Passivhaus Principles" as we didn't want to commit to certification during the planning process because of its challenging form, but our Passivhaus consultants (Peter Warm) felt that with a few tweaks it could make it and, as of this week, it has been certified. We also had to go through the "Paragraph 55" (now 79) route to get planning permission, where you have to go to a Design Review Panel of professionals who get to decide if your design is "exceptional architecture". They unanimously approved it while Planning rejected it and also said they didn't want any further discussion on it. However, our forward thinking local councillor took it to the development committee where Planning was over-ruled (a story in itself). To be honest we are not hands-on self-builders in that we used architects, builders, etc to do it and it was an expensive build, but we were in a position to do this because what we actually hands-on self-built was a successful software company that was then sold. We were very involved in the whole process, living 250 metres from site, and especially in selecting and pushing the eco kit and we also had a planning condition to put a photographic record of the build in the public domain, which being a keen photographer I have done: www.thewalledgardendevon.uk Eileen designed the landscape and is now implementing it with muscle from local ex-marines. So it's a certified Passivhaus with private water supply, a positive energy house through solar and using both electrical and thermal batteries, with an EER of 101. We started a bit late on Buildhub as we were having problems with our Sunamp thermal batteries and we got a lot of help from @JSHarris in particular and others. However, happy to answer questions about our experiences if that's useful.....