Newbie from South Cambridgeshire

[Gema]

Hi, 

 

last September we found a plot we liked in South Cambridgeshire and started to look into doing our own self build. This is something we had considered doing when we retire, but plots that align with our requirements are not super abundant, so we decided to do it now instead. We are looking to build a Passivhaus two storey dwelling and have it certified. Energy efficiency is important to us and so is having a home at the end that is really comfortable to live in. 

 

A few months later and we have exchanged contracts and are a couple of months into a planning application, awaiting the final outcome any week now. We started the journey with an architect, but two months into the relationship we realized our timeline would be heavily affected by the fact that we were not totally aligned and not fully listened to (despite very lengthy email threads back and forth) and decided to learn how to do the architecting ourselves, and hire any experts we needed to help with things along the way.  But having a third party handling it all for us was... too low touch for our liking. 

 

We'll be managing the build ourselves, as we've decided against having a main contractor. Maybe we'll need a project manager at some point.  

 

We've been reading the forum and learning from you all, hopefully we contribute something back soon! 

[SteamyTea]

Welcome.

Building to Passivhaus standard is a good goal.

But why do you want the certification?

If it is low energy running and minimum embodied CO₂ and energy you are after, there are cheaper ways to achieve this.

[saveasteading]

2 hours ago, Gema said:

we were not totally aligned and not fully listened to 

So you are right to part. But there are lots more out there and can be inspirational, and some are good technically which can avoid problems.

 

2 hours ago, Gema said:

looking to build a Passivhaus two storey dwelling and have it certified

Up to you of course but that last 5% can be very expensive.

Do you want the 'badge' or simply to have an efficient home?

Some of the issues are a matter of opinion anyway.

But I look forward to your input.