Essential need for a Dwelling

Location
suffolk
Has anyone managed to demonstrate an "essential need" for a dwelling in the countryside without livestock?

Im trying to get a house built on the farm with 150ac, arable and veg (some hand harvested), all of which is irrigated, 4 holiday lets, farm shop and wholesale veg business.

there is already an existing farmhouse (parents)

do I stand a chance?

thanks.
 

del_boy

Member
Location
Herefordshire
It depends on the council but id say if youve already got holiday lets you'll find it very difficult to get planning for a new house, they'll probably want you to apply for one of the lets to be changed to residential use.
We got planning a few years ago and we had livestock and was still nearly impossible and a million hoops to jump through, they really dont make it easy but best of luck and persivere
 
Location
suffolk
It depends on the council but id say if youve already got holiday lets you'll find it very difficult to get planning for a new house, they'll probably want you to apply for one of the lets to be changed to residential use.
We got planning a few years ago and we had livestock and was still nearly impossible and a million hoops to jump through, they really dont make it easy but best of luck and persivere

The holiday lets are only 4 small 1 bedroom chalets in a courtyard, not quite farmhouse material!
 

del_boy

Member
Location
Herefordshire
I know what you mean. We had a stone barn we tried to get planning on, had plans all drew up etc, it got turned down as "it wasn't big enough to support a modern day family " but they would give me planning for holiday let use. We scrapped the idea and applied for a new build 4 bedroom house with a double garage next to the barn and we got it passed, bonkers or what. But we still have the barn to do up again in future. The council planning are a joke, seems a different rule for everybody and different counties are all different.
If i was you id get some plans done and present them and see how you get on, maybe pre planning might be your best option to sound them out.
 

del_boy

Member
Location
Herefordshire
I probably could have done it that way but a new build was by far cheaper and better value, im glad ive done it this way and ive still got the barn to do up if/when funds allow
I know someone who tried and failed for some reason to change use from holiday let to full time residential
 

del_boy

Member
Location
Herefordshire
No it was traditional double skin block with cavity insulation. It took 2 builders just over 10months to complete and they worked on an hourly rate with me paying for materials and any good deals and savings was mine. Would do it this way again. Cant remember the exact cost but came in under 150k for a 4 bed house with 4 bathrooms double garage ready to convert at a later date. It was by miles cheaper than any quotes we had done so there are ways to save alot of money
 
Location
suffolk
presumably the cost thing is another factor in my argument for a house as there is no way i could afford a sensible sized place local to here. would probably be over twice the price!

@del_boy was that with you helping at all or just doing the purchasing? did you do any groundworks yourself?
 

del_boy

Member
Location
Herefordshire
I bought every material myself. Its amazing how cheap you can het summat if you got time to shop around and can talk a bit if bulls**t!! A good example, my brother is an electrian and i was buying wire and fittings etc cheaper than him which is mad.
i done the ground works myself and helped as much as i could, moving blocks, lifting and carrying stuff whenever possible but never mixed a single barrow of cement for them coz they was fussy! Working on the farm close by meant i was always on hand and we always had the materials on site and i had plenty of time to shop around. It was a good project and there really is money to save if youve got time, i would definitely do it again
 

phillipe

Member
I bought every material myself. Its amazing how cheap you can het summat if you got time to shop around and can talk a bit if bullpoo!! A good example, my brother is an electrian and i was buying wire and fittings etc cheaper than him which is mad.
i done the ground works myself and helped as much as i could, moving blocks, lifting and carrying stuff whenever possible but never mixed a single barrow of cement for them coz they was fussy! Working on the farm close by meant i was always on hand and we always had the materials on site and i had plenty of time to shop around. It was a good project and there really is money to save if youve got time, i would definitely do it again
Plus being a new build you claimed the vat back on materials
 
No it was traditional double skin block with cavity insulation. It took 2 builders just over 10months to complete and they worked on an hourly rate with me paying for materials and any good deals and savings was mine. Would do it this way again. Cant remember the exact cost but came in under 150k for a 4 bed house with 4 bathrooms double garage ready to convert at a later date. It was by miles cheaper than any quotes we had done so there are ways to save alot of money
was that recently? whats your opinion on kit houses?
 

phillipe

Member
the kits not last as long?
Dont know ,but with a timber frame they cant use anything nasty to preseve it with these days,look some body will be along in a minute and mention elizabeathen timber frames still standing but they are oak frames(english oak ) but plenty have rotted out aswell ,but downstairs for instance i like a render and skim finnish as i dont think dot and dab will stick 50 years of wear and tear,timber frame and plaster boerd one leak fom a pipe or washing machine for instance and your plasterboard walls are fecked
 

del_boy

Member
Location
Herefordshire
was that recently? whats your opinion on kit houses?
Finished the project 12 months ago.
No idea. We didnt even look into it. Timber frame if you want it quick and going to sell the property , traditional blocks if you plan on living in it yourself a builder told me.
I really cant see how a timber framed would have been cheaper by the end
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 65 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.1%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top