Would you build a house at the moment

[som farmer]

Would it be a good idea to get some blocks to beyond ground level, or perhaps to the damp course level, so it won't matter if the trench sides colapse over the period between now and the (extended?) actual build start?

we had a bitch of a planning officer, we wanted to change some lay out, to make things easier, for a disabled boy, she just wouldn't do anything, until expiry date, then she wanted us to re-aply. we had drains laid, ground work done, sewage in, etc, she wouldn't give way, it was cheaper to re-apply, than fight her, then she fought against it, all ag conditions met, we went above her, in the end, and no problems, she still fought against it, even when her boss said yes, she wanted a C106, rather than ag tie.
But, we knew we were in for a fight, she hates farmers getting pp, and is infamous for being petty.

 

[Nearly]

Only got to make a start havent you?

They've altered the wording on it and it needs to be finished by.....
I'd want it completed anyway as it finishes off the courtyard and means no tenants / guests can get into the farmyard bit.

Lay a couple of blocks and you have started and planning won't lapse then!
When did wording change you say?

My conversion is part q. Councils hate them and do everything to make it awkward. I'd rather get it done in deadline than be the one to be made an example of.

 

[br jones]

We are ready to start build but the quotes coming in are astronomic, well over £3000 / Sq m . It's a high spec. bungalow with all the bells and whistles ( GSHP, MHRV, UFH, complex roof shape etc)

The builders are all so busy they can add a huge safety margin to the quote and still get work.
All through the design phase we were repeatedly told it would cost around £2000 /Sq m .

Do wonder about self-managing the build, just getting subcontractors in, which is all the builder will do. I am worried I would not have enough control on quality as the brickies etc know it’s a one off and that I can’t do it without them, while they can get work anywhere at the moment.

you will be struggling to build what i assume will be all bar the shouting a pssive house ,ali windows etc with all you mention above for 3000 a meter ,it will be more as its a bungalow

 

[Gordy1]

Started building our house in 2007/2008 just as the recession started, I opened up accounts with several builders merchants in the area & got quotes for materials from all of them & they fell over themselves to beat each other on quotes so as to get the custom & done quite well out of it, used local builders as well (cash in hand jobs) no problem finding them as there were a lot of them unable to get work with the recession on going, it took two years to build it on & off & did well out of it at a fraction of the cost for shopping around.

 

[Old apprentice]

Our planning permission runs out in 3 months.
We've been waiting 12 months for a builder.
Quote has increased from £200k to £280k.
Funds are sort of organised.
Little choice really.

You will need a building inspector to sign of that you have started no good just putting the footings in and siting back and saying you have started. It has to be done so council axsept the start.

 

[two-cylinder]

Planning Permission and commencement of development - Reading solicitors, corporate, property and family advice | Field Seymour Parkes

Vicky McDonald, an Associate in our Real Estate group, answers the question of what counts as ‘commencement of development’ and why it matters.

www.fsp-law.com

 

[robs1]

Ha ha , good builders are always busy . my lad is booking jobs for next year .

Lots are but they may well be cancelled if things go to sh!t

 

[bobk]

Lots are but they may well be cancelled if things go to sh!t

Doubt it , only the lazy fekers are skint ,
He can always do a roof in france .....

 

[sant2468]

Class Q?
It has always said that for class Q. To be completed within 3 years of the planning being passed IIRC. We have successfully extended on more than one occasion and it is also relatively easy to get full planning if it does become an issue. (done that too)

Kidds was your building that you got class q part of your horticulture unit

 

[Kidds]

Yes, but they were traditional brick farm buildings rather than relatively modern steel frame. A big steel frame cubicle shed did get permission locally though.

 

[sant2468]

Yes, but they were traditional brick farm buildings rather than relatively modern steel frame. A big steel frame cubicle shed did get permission locally though.

We have an old nursery that has various buildings like cow sheds and a dutch barn. The dutch barn has 4 walls... fingers crossed we get the PD. A little nervous about not getting the application wrong as I hear you only have 1 chance to apply ..

 

[Kidds]

We have an old nursery that has various buildings like cow sheds and a dutch barn. The dutch barn has 4 walls... fingers crossed we get the PD. A little nervous about not getting the application wrong as I hear you only have 1 chance to apply ..

I recommend getting a recommended professional to help you.
You should be getting an ecology survey done (bats, newts, swallows etc), a traffic report to reflect the changes/impact to the council road not the private access, you should be quoting the rules under class Q regarding sustainability and how a farm building is not required to meet usual standards due to the very nature of farms and their locations. Plus many other things I can't just recall immediately.
My point is there are many ways the council will try and refuse your planning but they have to be based on planning rules. Quote all the rules to them and demonstrate how your development satisfies all those rules and they will struggle to refuse it. Miss out any of those explanations and it gives them too much opportunity to refuse as you haven't demonstrated sufficiently why it should be allowed.
You also need to do an awful lot of homework so you know the rules and how to comply with them. You can google the rules easy enough, you can look up all the local applications and see if they passed or failed and the decision notice on each application will show you the reasons for failure.
It is not terribly difficult but you really need to put a lot of effort in yourself. It will cost quite a bit for all the various reports but on the grand scale of things it is a cheap way to get a house passed.
You need to know a great deal of the rules etc yourself because unfortunately the "professionals" are very often not particularly professional. It wasn't until I entered the world of property development that I realised how bad they very often are.
Good luck.

 

[PSQ]

In at the timber merchants today. Guy on the desk said he'd discounted prices, but they were all higher than the sticker prices on the shelf, "I've got to change all the stickers this afternoon, price increases".
Then chatting to the guy in the timber shed: "We're a lot quieter than we've been for a long time".
- The two things might be connected.

I have a sneaking suspicion that due to the 'cost of living crisis', you'll be able to pick and choose tradesmen by Christmas, especially the guys who are going to be laid off at the first sign of the downturn. Wether labour or materials will drop much in price, that I doubt.

 

[steveR]

we had a bitch of a planning officer, we wanted to change some lay out, to make things easier, for a disabled boy, she just wouldn't do anything, until expiry date, then she wanted us to re-aply. we had drains laid, ground work done, sewage in, etc, she wouldn't give way, it was cheaper to re-apply, than fight her, then she fought against it, all ag conditions met, we went above her, in the end, and no problems, she still fought against it, even when her boss said yes, she wanted a C106, rather than ag tie.
But, we knew we were in for a fight, she hates farmers getting pp, and is infamous for being petty.

Not come down from Telford has she, about 10 years ago....?

 

[steveR]

In at the timber merchants today. Guy on the desk said he'd discounted prices, but they were all higher than the sticker prices on the shelf, "I've got to change all the stickers this afternoon, price increases".
Then chatting to the guy in the timber shed: "We're a lot quieter than we've been for a long time".
- The two things might be connected.

I have a sneaking suspicion that due to the 'cost of living crisis', you'll be able to pick and choose tradesmen by Christmas, especially the guys who are going to be laid off at the first sign of the downturn. Wether labour or materials will drop much in price, that I doubt.

Saw the same yesterday in Jewson's picking up a couple of sheets of Plywood. I commented that it was quiet and the guys confirmed it was dead...

With housing sales slowing up according the Business pages over the weekend, it'll be interesting to see if the big projects near us slow down now. The one site was pretty well only building to Order anyway I was told.

 

[som farmer]

Not come down from Telford has she, about 10 years ago....?

no, her dad was in the same job, in mendip council, and was equally awkward.
might have a bit more coming up, luckily, she's moved into the parish, so, as l understand, she can't get involved in this parish !!!!!

 

[steveR]

no, her dad was in the same job, in mendip council, and was equally awkward.
might have a bit more coming up, luckily, she's moved into the parish, so, as l understand, she can't get involved in this parish !!!!!

Winner!!!

 

[Doing it for the kids]

no, her dad was in the same job, in mendip council, and was equally awkward.
might have a bit more coming up, luckily, she's moved into the parish, so, as l understand, she can't get involved in this parish !!!!!

Not sure it’s correct ref parish and non involvement. One of our senior planning officers lives close by and regularly decided on our applications.

Fortunately she is sensible so we all like her.

 

[steveR]

Not sure it’s correct ref parish and non involvement. One of our senior planning officers lives close by and regularly decided on our applications.

Fortunately she is sensible so we all like her.

I would have thought that she had to "declare an interest" when making a decision that will guide the Plans Board of the Council... Who of course make the actual decison. Sometimes!!!

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I would have thought that she had to "declare an interest" when making a decision that will guide the Plans Board of the Council... Who of course make the actual decison. Sometimes!!!

Perhaps but how far do they go.

If planning for houses backing up to their garden I’d agree but given most development can be seen from public places if she lives near by or not, I don’t think it makes a massive difference? All officers live local ish after all