Mum's new place - what do you think....?

[daftlad]

I WILL KEEP BANGING ON ABOUT MASONRY STOVES

LOL

any excuse.....
ta ta

[noelsquibb]

Guy

Daughter n Son in law had similar issues and in the end they went along with the big high spec extention to a crappy Woolaway bungalow ( 4" thick walls made of concrete panels with batten at rear holding plasterboard and perhaps 40mm of itchy scratchy )  Knockdown and rebuild was allowed but only 10% increase in volume.
Apparently the logic is that they are supposed to try and keep a spectrum of different priced properties in any area so that the milkman and the solicitor can co exist in a balanced community.

Then after a bit of a struggle their neighbour got permission to knock his down and build double the size.
All down to who you employ as Planning Consultant / Architect but clearly not made easy for Joe Soap.

I agree with the GSHP / UFH  and  plenty of solar toobs as the primary sources with a woodburner as backup. Just got to plan the log handling into the layout to keep it easy. I know some pretty ancient folk who can still stoke a fire.

With regards to digging holes, it ain't rocket science,  the biggest challenge is making a tidy job of the reinstatements and getting rid of the mountain of surplus.

In fact my first question is always -  wheres the surplus going ?  cos you can often get people to step back and see the pond / screening bank package when you explain the cart-away component, with 6 wheeled tippers destroying the drive, 8hitting up the road for half a mile and costing a fortune.  Theres nearly always an on site disposal solution and if its thought about early enough the Oh, how I wish it was better only gets moved once.

Spect you already got that covered though.

noel

[noelsquibb]

Oh, how I wish it was better

cr4p

[desperate]

Guy, Noel, sorry to stir, but......... If you dug a 4*4*4metre hole , you've got about 30m3 store with 1m thick insulation all round, thats an interseasonal store, then you have to get rid of 63m3 of ground, scattered over 8 hectares about 8cm thick. 30,000 litres of water could be made to work I reckon.

Desperate

[renewablejohn]

They have professional planning getter types working on it...

Guy

I originally used a well known firm of planning consultants to get my agricultural building (in green belt) through the planners and they failed miserably due to the proposal being written from a planners perspective. Having seen all my neighbors  getting similar buildings accepted I established a pattern that all these plans had been submitted by just one successful land agent. I employed this land agent who submitted an application based on the farming justification as well as the planning law and the council still refused the permission. We then went to appeal and we not only won our case but received compensation from the council.   

[dhaslam]

I cannot understand why  planners  have the right to stop new buildings  in country areas.      I can understand the problem on the edge of towns where it becomes very untidy  but in areas where the population is declining it seems ridiculous.    It reminds me  of  Nicolae Ceauşescu's  regulations, if someone had a large house they had to  pay to have it demolished and  move into a smaller house or appartment.

This is  a quote from somewhere that summarises the development  of green field sites.    I don't think in practice   any of these  apply provided the house has it's own energy supply, the site is big enough to support wildlife and amenity areas  are kept free of buildings.       
 
Effects Upon Greenfield Sites of Development

    * Once land has been converted to development, it is unlikely to ever be converted back to Greenfield use
    * Destruction of the natural habitat of some animal and plant species
    * Loss of agricultural land results in loss of production and loss of employment
    * Reduction of or complete loss of amenity or recreation value
    * Negative effect upon transport and energy use
    * Loss of the green belt of agricultural or designated wildlife land, that clearly defines and separates areas of difference, be they cities, towns, suburbs, villages or hamlets of housing

This is a package of negative effects upon the Greenfield site and potentially the surrounding areas, if the site is used for building development.

[brackwell]

Dhaslam,
If you think green field development is crazy then what about brown field. I personally know of cases where development would be an asset and the villagers have not objected but no.  I think the problem arises because a single private development needs significant infrastructure costs not born by the developer. In the case of bigger scale commercial developments the builder is picking up the bill and more.  Ken

[martin]

I'm firmly in favour of allowing rural villages to "grow organically", using if needs be,use "green" land to do so - there are many villages round here where the prices of property, even in a slump, mean that the younger residents of them have to either live with their parents, or move out to a nearby town because they haven't a snowball's chance in hell of affording a property - they should be encouraged to stay by each village being able to allow provision of affordable and desirable housing- there are even powers to grant smallholdings still on the statute books that could be used. We desperately need to revivify the villages by keeping the young in them, which would mean a revival in village schools, post offices and pubs - at the moment, in this area, it's almost exclusively old fogies, merchant wbankers, drug dealers, or those who've sold London properties for a fortune who move to a rural area and grizzle about the smell of muck, gunshots, and do all their shopping from Internet supermarkets........

[brackwell]

Martin,
I agree but i see the bigger problem as the 2nd home brigade.  For the last what 10 yrs owning a property or 2 has been a one way bet ( with the help of "the business" and flipping resident address ) leading to whole villages lying empty for the vast majority of the year and everything withers. 
The first thing to do is to bring in capital gains tax on all properties - this will stop the one way bet and then village houses will be village prices.  Dont worry about the tax for everybody else as then there will be minimal capital gains.
Secondly lump some house running costs into the rates eg refuse,sewage,free parking in the village etc  does not increase costs to the residents but does to 2nd homers making it impossible to make a profit.  Ken

[noelsquibb]

I cannot understand why planners have the right to stop new buildings in country areas. 

Apparently its due to the town and country planning act    This was designed to stop the greater unwashed from spoiling Lordys view whilst out admiring his estate.

There are loopholes that allow Lordy and his mates to do pretty much as they please though.
Clearly a well thought through bit of legislation then.

Our only real chance to crack the planning system is to do something 'illegal' for a very long time and not get noticed, or to employ a Planning Consultant ( often an ex Planning Officer ) who can get past the lower layers of the system a lot quicker than we can. 

[guydewdney]

Boing..... (like bump - but bigger)

Right - she finally has planning permission.

Shes looking at a SIPS construction method. two bedrooms as cellars. rest (2 more) bedrooms normal. sort of V shaped house, with entrance hall in apex.

her current plan:-
PV on the roof
Solar water on roof
Wood burner in one end of house.
MHRV to spread heat about.


I pointed out - no DHW system for winter. Brother suggested KISS and an immersion, using the leccy made by the PV to gain money - then use that money to pay fo leccy during the winter. Also suggested back boiler on fire. Or wood chip boiler....

I like wood chip - as its a one off expense, then cheap fuel. (rural location). Wood pellet slightly cheaper, but fuel more expensive. They arn't young any more (65 but fit) so dont want to rely on wood log system.

[Amy]

I'm firmly in favour of allowing rural villages to "grow organically", using if needs be,use "green" land to do so - there are many villages round here where the prices of property, even in a slump, mean that the younger residents of them have to either live with their parents, or move out to a nearby town because they haven't a snowball's chance in hell of affording a property - they should be encouraged to stay by each village being able to allow provision of affordable and desirable housing- there are even powers to grant smallholdings still on the statute books that could be used. We desperately need to revivify the villages by keeping the young in them, which would mean a revival in village schools, post offices and pubs - at the moment, in this area, it's almost exclusively old fogies, merchant wbankers, drug dealers, or those who've sold London properties for a fortune who move to a rural area and grizzle about the smell of muck, gunshots, and do all their shopping from Internet supermarkets........

And the first thing some of those grizzlers want to do is close down the farm next door.
In one case nr Leominster, they won a council ruling to stop cattle in a nearby farm shed from mooing between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

They tried to close down Nevil Symonds (symonds cider fame, now owned by bulmers) clay shooting school.
I know other people who have had similar problems

[MR GUS]

Boing..... (like bump - but bigger)


I like wood chip - as its a one off expense, then cheap fuel. (rural location). Wood pellet slightly cheaper, but fuel more expensive. They arn't young any more (65 but fit) so dont want to rely on wood log system.

I keep saying to folk about using the provenly effective (well shops use em) trolley system, ..If you get a good supplier can you not buy up 4 / 6 / 8 (preferably) design in a moveable system to assist loading (moving if neccessary, & unloading near point of fire eg 1 cage trolley cupboard for in use wood?
My cage trolley's have been a boon since purchase, no spillage, secure loading, easy to move.
If I were planning level flooring would obviously be of importance (no trip, ease of access for goods etc) making movement of a wood trolley cage simplicity itself witha bit of fore thought.
Obviously wet logs weigh it down somewhat, dry logs move nice & easily on the 4 industrial castors, as they are lockable cages, minimal danger.

[Ted]

And the first thing some of those grizzlers want to do is close down the farm next door.
In one case nr Leominster, they won a council ruling to stop cattle in a nearby farm shed from mooing between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

Do the cows take any notice?

[MR GUS]

WTF? (flip)! ..I guess those on the commitees who order such nonsense are maybe incomers who buy for the unobstructed view, but do not consider why the nearby land is as it is! ...nor for how long, prior to their arrival, nor the fact that then the farmer may as well sell the land for building development & infill.

TO$$ERS