Cold Coffee Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Hello all, My husband and I are in the process of buying a plot of land with outline planning permission on it in Leicestershire. Just checking in here and introducing myself before I get to the point of bombarding all you knowledge-wealthy people with questions. I am doing lots of reading and price hunting at the moment. We are meeting our architect on Monday to discuss our brief and our initial ideas, and we can't wait. Looking forward to 'working' with you all in the coming months, maybe years! Sally 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redoctober Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Hi and welcome - sounds great - we will certainly look forward to hearing about your project and how it will unfold over the coming months and hopefully, not too many years! In particular it will be of interest I'm sure, as to how you find the relationship with your architect. Good luck PW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Hi and welcome to the forum. Make sure you have a good solicitor on board that understands plots. Check the planning permission. Measure the plot to make sure it is what you think and the house will actually fit. Check the services, water, electricity and in particular drainage. How will the services get to the site and from where? Easements etc. And re drainage, if not mains, what system is proposed? will it actually fit? will it actually work? These are more fundamental to get right first. Then you can design the house that suits your needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 9 hours ago, Cold Coffee said: Hello all, My husband and I are in the process of buying a plot of land with outline planning permission on it in Leicestershire. [...] Welcome Do check the drainage thoroughly first. No foul drain, no house. Personally check every ground survey in detail. If you can, watch it being done. Why? Read this. Forewarned, forearmed. I like cold coffee, iced coffee even more. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 Welcome. Nice to see another one from the East Midlands. My nugget: spend the time to build up your own knowledge so you know enough to direct your architect in fulfilling *your* expectations. Otherwise you can end up with your architect's vision, not your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Coffee Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 Thanks you all for your intial advice. I feel like i'm living and breathing information on sewers and drains at the moment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Coffee Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 1 hour ago, Ferdinand said: Welcome. Nice to see another one from the East Midlands. My nugget: spend the time to build up your own knowledge so you know enough to direct your architect in fulfilling *your* expectations. Otherwise you can end up with yoru arichitect's vision, not your own. Thanks Ferdinand. We sat and wrote our essentials & desirables list a couple of weeks ago. It was only last night that I realised we hadn't asked our children for their thoughts. They came up with some really interesting ideas about how they see us all living in the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 Have a read of Caliwags blog on this site - some thought provoking posts about design ..! And welcome...!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Coffee Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 9 minutes ago, PeterW said: Have a read of Caliwags blog on this site - some thought provoking posts about design ..! And welcome...!! I will do. And thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Cold Coffee said: Thanks Ferdinand. We sat and wrote our essentials & desirables list a couple of weeks ago. It was only last night that I realised we hadn't asked our children for their thoughts. They came up with some really interesting ideas about how they see us all living in the house. There are also the Unknown Unknowns - things you haven't asked for because you do not know that they can be done. You only find them by visiting lots of interesting houses. eg increase the perceived size of your interior against a path or wall on a boundary (or hiding a closed off view) by putting in a window below the height of the wall outside and planting something green against the wall that feels like a windowsill a metre away but is actually outside. A window with the top at 1m and sill at 0.2m is a good trick in the front if you ar tight to a path and do not want the public to see in, but the Council limit your wall to 1m or 1.2m. Equally something similar looking inside, lit froma source that cannot be seen (consider a former fireplace lit from a hidden source above) and you start playing games with inside/outside. etc. F Edited October 13, 2017 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 2 hours ago, Cold Coffee said: [...] I feel like i'm living and breathing information on sewers and drains at the moment! [...] And that, that's the first sign of a self builder. Sort that out and you won't fall in it, as it were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moira Niedzwiecka Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 Hello Sally, We are also building in Leicestershire, close to the Rutland border. Our structure is up & the external finishes & windows should be complete by mid November. Fully agree with everything said so far. Wishing you good luck with your project. Best Wishes Moira Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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