Merry Christmas

Just when progress starts to look promising, along comes an early winter and brings to a halt the site work.

It's interesting, 'cos so much good work has been done over the past few weeks with building work happening on a number of fronts.  Then it comes to the time to remove the existing roof, and they take down some of the existing walls in readiness to raise the new roof by half a metre, and suddenly it looks like we're taking the barn down again, not building it up!

I'm sure it will look miles better once the new roof goes back on, but our poor barn looks desperately bedraggled without even it's old tin roof.  I hope the freezing weather relents enough to get the roof back on before Christmas, although the outlook isn't too promising.

In the meantime, we've had more objections from the planners to our proposals for the garden steps and retaining wall; they want more expensive stone than the one that we've proposed.  I've asked our builder to try to convince them (justifiably) that what we've suggested is compatible with the barn and the area.

And I've just spoken to Central Networks about our electricity supply.  They've done a revised quote, down to about £5,500, but we haven't received it yet because I think they have our address wrong.  Then once we get it, accept, and pay in advance, it then takes them 6-8 weeks to arrange the connection.  We'll know for next time to apply from the outset.

Good progress

Misan visited the barn last weekend with our friend Meg and they were excited by what they saw, so Misan took loads of photos to send to me in Hong Kong.

Some of the oak posts and beams are in place, and the ground floor blockwork is almost complete so you can see the shape of the kitchen.  The oak gallery structure is also built and looks good.  The brick fireplace is starting to appear, and most of the first floor joists are installed.

She also checked the letterbox to see whether Central Networks have bothered to send their revised quotation yet - and of course they haven't.  Why do they need 6 weeks to prepare a quotation for 50m of cabling and a few joints, whenwe send them all the drawings and the only thing they do is look on Google Streetview to check out the locality.

Mind you, living in the barn is going to be quite different to the apartment we're planning to rent in HK from next month .... the one similarity being 'downsizing'; HK will certainly be good practice on how to live in a compact space!  Our's will be in this block, with about 700 square feet for a 2 bed place - that's half the floor area of the barn.  We won't have those curved glass windows (couldn't afford one of them) but should have reasonable views across the bay and a short walk to the bars, restaurants and ferry terminal for trips across to HK island.

Blog from Hong Kong

Just ending my first week in Hong Kong, starting to find my way around and getting used to how things work here.

Also keeping in touch with family back home and, of course, the builder to make sure work continues to progress smoothly on the conversion of the barn.  Misan is keeping a good eye on things and has emailed a few photos over.  She's also been in touch with the kitchen companies for quotes (amazing that we have to chase them!) and collecting our mail from the postbox at the barn.

And we got one annoying letter from the planners saying they wanted more drawings before they could validate our shed application, plus a 150 pound fee (can't find the pound sign on my HK keyboard).  I phoned them and followed up with an email attaching the drawing that had gone in with the on-line application but which they hadn't received for some reason, and explaining that they'd previously advised that there would be no fee.  Got a reply saying they'd considered it further and decided they need a full planning application and a 170 pound fee!  I despair.  Maybe we'll leave the shed idea until we've completed the barn works.

We wuz wrong

Maybe it was a quiet time on site earlier in the week, but a quick visit today on our way back from London shows they must have had a good second half, as the scaffolding has been completed all round the outside and some of the internal blockwork has been built.

There's also nine packs of bricks on the driveway and the lounge window is taking shape as they build new stonework to reduce the size.

And we had a session with Homebase this morning to get them to give us a quote for the kitchen.  Only got half way through before we had to leave to drive to London to see our good friend Harwinder who is on a flying visit from USA.  Of course she got the lowdown on the barn, which is not quite as big in floor area as their summer cabin in Wisconsin.  Ah well, we are downsizing after all.

So it's back to Homebase tomorrow, and we might even discuss wardrobes with them, too.

Up and Down

It's been a strange few weeks.

We haven't visited the barn for about 10 days, as we know not much has happened on site whilst the builders wait for the scaffold to be erected - and the scaffolder has had labour problems.

Our builder, Neil, met with the engineer yesterday to consider what to do about the bulging wall at the road end - and it looks like it needs some repairs!

Neil has ordered the oak posts and beams today.  He's also struck a good deal with the brick supplier, buying a job lot of 4500 hand-made bricks for less than £300/1000.

So whilst progress might have been a bit slack on site, things are happening - honest.  I've even had a further call from Central Networks, saying they're trying to find ways to reduce the quote for the electricity connection, but still finding all sorts of reasons why they can't do an overhead cable - mainly I suspect because it gives them maintenance problems in the future.

Meanwhile, I'm off to Hong Kong on Weds with work, so I'll be relying on the internet for news whilst Neil does the site project management and Misan takes on the role of clerk of works.  That'll keep everyone on their toes!

PS: Misan has objected - she thinks she's PM, not Neil.  The fireworks are about to go off!!

PPS: My sister Ann has just reminded me that I put in our latest planning application this week - for a garden shed!  Because the planners had inserted a condition in the last approval saying no building or structure could be erected within the curtilage without prior written approval from the loacl planning authority, we've had to send in drawings showing the plans and all four elevations of our proposed shed, together with a design and access statetment justifying our proposals.  I even included some photos to help.  They now have 8 weeks to consult the neighbours and publish their decision - which we hope will be a nice Christmas present.

Still standing

The old lean-to has been completely removed - and the leaning wall is still standing, supported by the three new buttresses.  And it looks pretty good.  Shows how much space we'll have in front of the barn for our patio area outside the kitchen french doors, with Uncle Buge giving some idea of scale .....

The service ducts and drains were also put in last week, and the front of the barn tidied up with some hardcore and stone ready for the erection of the scaffolding.

Poles apart

Finally received the quotation from Central Networks for our electricity connection yesterday.  Their pole is directly across the road from the barn, so we struggle to see how they've come up with a price of £9,200 !!  I phoned them today to query it.  They explained that they have to upgrade our end of the village to accommodate our power demand, and that they've routed it underground across the road, along the verge then round our driveway to avoid going under the boundary wall.  I said our builder will put the ducts under the wall, so it can come straight through that way.  So now they're going to revise their quote, within the next 15 days, and hopefully reduce it.  I even asked whether it could be overhead from the pole (like our neighbours both sides).  Afetr a discussion with her manager, she said it was possible, but would probably be more expensive and delay the quote as they'd need a site visit.

At least we can see a bit of progress on the barn, as the builders have taken the roof off the old lean-to and taken down a few of the walls - so we can see the buttresses in the open now, and they're still holding up the leaning wall.  Still got to take down the old block wall; if the leaning wall is still in place after that it'll be a relief.

Big Buttresses

The builders have emptied out the old lean-to, taken off the doors that we so carefully crafted from the original barn doors six months ago, and started building the buttresses that we all hope will support the leaning wall once the lean-to has been demolished.

It's early days in this stage of these works, and it's a risky time.  We won't know whether this solution will work until the buttresses are completed and the lean-to removed, so we're all keeping our fingers crossed.

At least the loose stonework on this elevation has given the builders somewhere safe to put their radio ...

Happy anniversary

As we celebrate the anniversary of the auction, the collapsed wall is being rebuilt and the existing stonework is being cleaned down, joints raked out, helifix bars fixed in across cracks and between the two skins of stonework, and all repointed outside and in with lime mortar.

There are 11 builders bags of reclaimed stone on site, ready for use in the new buttresses and raising the walls all round by 500mm.  The hand-made bricks are due to arrive soon, and the oak posts, beams and lintols are being sourced now ready for inclusion as the openings are formed.

We visited a company that does all the air source heating kit last Friday (on our way to our annual get-together in Exeter with our ex ex-pat friends who worked in Nigeria together 30 years ago) and got some great advice about what's good and what's not so good in the renewable energy market.

I also contacted the planners about putting up a garden shed - and was told we need planning permission!  So application no. 4 will go in soon, with plans and all four elevations of our proposed shed.  The good news is that there won't be any extra fee this time, but we will have to go through the usual 8 week consultation period before they can approve our shed ..... !

But we did get one wonderful anniversary present.  Our friend Andrew, now semi-retired and a budding artist in all his spare time, presented us with an original painting of the barn before any work had been done.  He visited the barn a few weeks ago, then worked from photos he'd taken that day plus some of ours from a year ago and came up with a beautiful picture of the derelict barn.  We hope he'll be available in 6 months time to do another one of the completed project, for a 'before and after' set.

Now that's a hole

The builders have been progressing well with the new lean-to, and it's turned in to a mammoth earthmoving exercise.  The drawings didn't give a true impression of just how much digging was needed.  These pictures give some idea ... note the dark brown upper layers (remnants of animal bedding from inside the 'nissen hut') and the orange clay below.

The internet's a nightmare

For the past few weeks Misan's dongle has been misbehaving.  So we signed up to Sky Broadband (had to give up Sky Sports in exchange, but then I'm fed up with Pro Bull Riding and World Darts anyway, so what the heck).  Of course, it took a week or so to get it on, then tonight it won't recognise this blogsite, so I'm now accessing it from my laptop.

Anyway, we need to catch up.  We've sorted out our photos, so here's one of the mesh in the barn before the slab was cast - note the upstand that will hold up the stone walls that have been undermined ....

And here's one of the wall that came down - until then it was holding up one of the roof trusses, so it's as well that the builders quickly put the acrow prop in. 

Our materials were all approved by the planners back in August, and our builder is back on site this week so things are back in full swing.  The foundations for the new lean-to are in, but not without masses of excavation to lower the ground levels at that end of the barn.

We chose our internal joinery (doors, staircase, etc) last weekend, then Misan chose her range cooker this weekend.

And I eventually applied for our electricity connection today.  Just waiting apprehensively for their quotation now, which is inevitably more than you've budgetted for and there's nothing you can do about it.  Power to the people, eh?

The internet is wonderful

You might think that not much would happen when the builder goes away for a 2 week holiday, and we both go to Nigeria for me to work and Misan to recover from the move (and to visit family, of course).

Well I've just logged on to the council's website from the hotel room and noticed that they've approved our latest planning application - number 3 3/4 (which included the rebuilding of the bit of collapsed wall, and the proposed buttresses against the leaning wall).  That's great news, and means we can now proceed legitimately with construction (assuming our materials have also been approved).  We'll have to wait to see the decision notice to see if the materials approval is included, and whether they've added any further conditions - we hope not.

Looking forward to getting back next week and resuming construction. 

Moving on

Apologies to all our readers!  We've not been too lazy to blog recently - far from it, life's been hectic as we've moved from our Warwick home into a rented house whilst the barn gets converted, and since the move last weekend we've not had internet at home so couldn't blog even if we'd had the time.

So what's been happening?  Well, we rented a big semi on Fri 30 July, spent the weekend cleaning it and packing, completed our house sale on Mon 2 Aug and moved out.  Traumatic or what!  The 'kids' came home that weekend and helped - just as well - and our friend Kulu flew in from Canada to visit and ended up in marigolds doing a great job degreasing the kitchen at the rented place.  Boxes everywhere, garden full of stuff from 2 sheds and garage, no TV signal, no internet, boiler not working (so no hot water) .... but we're gradually getting ship-shape and even had a successful garage sale to declutter further.

Meanwhile, the barn.  Got our address confirmed by the 'Street Numbering and Naming Authority' (yes, there is one) - we can call it The Barn (original, eh?).  But haven't had our latest planning application (number three and a half - the raised floor level and revised truss shape) approved yet, and haven't had a response on our materials samples.  But that hasn't stopped the builder from ploughing on with Phase 1.  He started by lowering and widening the access, encountering an unexpected cable in the process which turned out to be the phone line to our neighbours' cottages plus the big Priory down the road.  Although we didn't cut through it, BT did apparently repair it overnight as some phones had been cut off.

Then our builder started on the trenches inside the barn for the deep foundations.  He dug down to about 2m, needed to go further, so got a bigger digger and got the 5 cross trenches in last week.  Then this week he was lowering the soil levels inside and one of the walls started to move!  They quickly shored up the beam over the barn door and one of the trusses, then carefully took down that section of the existing stone wall.  The engineer came out, the planners were consulted, and they've agreed that we can rebuild that part in the original style and also suggested a solution for the leaning wall using stone buttresses.  The planners even indicated that if we got revised drawings submitted within a week, they'd consider it as part of the pending planning application.  So I reckon we're now on application no. three and three quarters!  The decision on that is due before 23 August, meanwhile we're prompting them for approval of the materials so we can order our stone and bricks.

Could that be things starting to swing in our favour?  Careful!  We set our washing machine on last night for a final wash just before we jet off to Nigeria for a short while, only to find the landlord's plumbing dumped loads of the drained water onto the utility floor - and soaked the bases of loads of the boxes that we didn't intend to unpack until we move to Chacombe!  So we moved about a dozen boxes outside, repacked 4 or 5 into new boxes, dried out the floor and put them back.  The landlord got an earful from Misan this morning.  Isn't life fun!

Time to catch up

You may have noticed we ain't blogged much lately - 'cos we've been so busy.  How do we summarise this - well ....

We decided the raised floor level solution was a good idea, but the compromised lower gallery wasn't, so I spoke to the planners about 3 things - putting the kitchen in a larger extension so bringing one of the bedrooms downstairs (planners - no way), raising the roof by another metre (planners - could accept maybe 200mm, but not a metre) or lifting the bottom member of the truss to increase headroom over the gallery (planners - might be OK).  The planning officer is really good and always gives feedback on what might be acceptable, but of course it's the conservation officer that has the real say.  The CO's response to our 3 ideas was no, no and - well, the existing trusses are of no particular merit, so that might be acceptable.  So the planner then says if we can send in revised drawings within 3 days they can deal with it under the raised floor levels application.  A quick call to the architect secured his agreement, and he pulled out all the stops.  The revised drawings went in on time, so we're now waiting for approval to that scheme and then we'll build it.

 

So now it's starting to get exciting.  We've got an estimate from one builder, and we're waiting for a price from another.  We realised that one of the planning conditions is that we have to submit samples of external materials before commencement, so Misan was collecting slates from one merchant whilst I was collecting bricks from another.  Then I visited a few yards last Thurs evening looking at stone, and took all of our samples to Towcester on Friday for the planners to approve.

Meanwhile our house sale nears completion, but not without it's own traumas. Our buyers are keen to move in, yet their solicitor is still sending 10-point enquiries including items like "will your clients remove the brick barbecue" (anyone who's been to one of our barbies will know it's loose laid with no mortar, so removing it is not an issue) and "will you pay £10 for a chancel indemnity".  It took some self control to respond sensibly to that last one.  The upshot is, we think we'll be out of this house in 2 weeks, and haven't yet found anywhere to rent!  Could be on Rightmove's website a lot this week.


But being so close to starting construction means we've ordered our structural warranty, paid for our water connection (just got to order it now once the builder has installed the standpipe), sourced our external materials and got a builder lined up to start.  Then today we had a 'site visit' by friends Pam & Brian and Pam's brother and wife.  A quick tour of the barn, then lunch at the pub, before we came back to Warwick to continue getting ready for the move, before setting off to Warwick Castle as VIP guests at the Proms concert, followed by a spectacular firework display.


And it's nearly Monday, ready for the start of what looks to be a hectic week ...

Are we there yet?

We're almost ready to start building.  The Building Regs application went in on  Monday, and in theory we can start within 48 hours, although we haven't quite got a builder yet.


Mind you, the scheme we've submitted for approval is the one with the higher floor levels, and Misan is not convinced that this is a good solution.  She's still concerned it contains too many compromises on headroom, gallery height, etc to be worthwhile pursuing, whilst I maintain that any design that avoids underpinning seems right to me.  We need to discuss with our builders to get a better feel for the relative costs and merits of the 2 schemes.


Raising the floor levels has also required a new Listed Building Consent application, and a Minor Material Amendment application to the planning permission - which attracts extra fees.  And of course we've had to pay our designers more to develop this alternative, plus the building regs application fee ... it's never ending.  A word of caution here for any prospective self-builders - all of the costs we've incurred so far have exceeded the allowances suggested in the various self build magazines.


We also saw a house for rent that fits the bill for us.  We applied straight away, but the landlord has apparently chosen someone else who wants a longer term.  We've offered a higher rent to convince them otherwise, but haven't heard back yet.  We need to get somewhere soon, as the buyers are keen to complete on our house in late July.


Then I re-dug the trial holes at the barn by hand on Monday evening so that the architect can get levels on the underside of the stone walls and relate them to other existing and proposed levels.  I still can't believe they haven't done this up to now, as to me it's the most critical piece of information about the existing structure, but at least we now have it and so can be more certain about the proposed design solutions.  We live in hope.

Let down by Kiwis

There I was, in line for a maximum 10 points in our World Cup Predictions competition, when New Zealand get an injury time equaliser!


And just before our Warwick house was surveyed yesterday by the purchaser's surveyor, the Kiwi plant against the back wall was blown over by a gust of wind, nicely exposing a crack in the brickwork below the kitchen window.


We're now waiting nervously for any feedback from the survey, hoping he didn't find anything serious enough to put the buyers off.  Should find out tomorrow ...

Back to the drawing board

Six weeks after we asked the architect and engineer to proceed with the Building Regs drawings, which should have taken 1-2 weeks, we've had to get them round the table and have a radical rethink.  As the details were being drawn up, it became apparent that horrendous foundation works, including underpinning, was needed to build the scheme that's been approved by the planners.  So we've suggested the designers now look at a higher ground floor level to avoid undermining the existing stone walls. This will mean pushing the bedrooms further up into the roof - which can't be raised any more than the 500mm raising allowed on the approved plans - but which we think can be accommodated because there's enough headroom between the trusses to do this.


The frustrating thing is that we've had to address this at such a late stage - we've got builders waiting for these drawings to give us quotations.  And again it's our ideas and our initiative that they're now going to develop.  Why don't they come up with these in the first place?


Oh, and it's 7 months since we bought the barn, and we're still a month away from starting building work ....

Homeless

After a month of inactivity in the housing market - everyone waiting for the election, then waiting for the Dave & Nick love-in to finish, then waiting for the announcement on spending cuts, then ... we had a viewing at our house yesterday, and agreed a sale today!


So we're back looking at Rightmove, but to rent a house this time until our barn becomes habitable.

Not that things are charging along on that front.  We're doing our bits - cleared out 2 more trailer loads of rusty scrap metal last weekend, had a big bonfire to burn all our scrap wood, and mowed/strimmed our grass and the verge along the road.  It was really hot, too, so we had to retreat to the pub for cooling shandy.  Discovered my wife is becomong a bit of a photographer, too - have a look at this one ...

But the designers are frustrating us at the moment by taking so long to produce the Building Regs drawings.  They're into their 5th week now on something they told us would take a week or two, and some of the structural details they've come up with don't seem that buildable - and look expensive!  And the absence of those drawings is delaying everything at the moment, as we need those drawings for builders to give us quotes.


Still, we're getting on well with the neighbours now.  Even feeding their animals with our grass cuttings ...

Now that's a fence

Met our final builder today at the barn.  They seem a good company, too, so with the 2 or 3 others we have a decent group to invite tenders from.  Just need the Building Regs drawings from our architect now and we can send out tender packs.


Our cottage neighbours have put up a fence around their part of the paddock.  We were worried that it was going to be a close boarded fence that would have blocked our view down the valley, but fortunately it's a really neat 3 rail fence, with a short close boarded section between our two gates, which actually gives us more privacy whilst retaining the views.  What a relief.

Also started finding out how to obtain a new water supply.  As usual, we're close to the border of 3 authorities; our water supply comes from Anglian, our sewerage goes to Thames Water!  Ended up downloading 3 separate forms and 5 guidance documents - which indicate that Anglian could need up to 3 months notice if traffic lights are required.  Gonna send off that application tomorrow!

A Historic Day

So you think appointing our new Prime Minister was a momentous decision.  Huh, that's nuffink.  The biggest decision this week was made by our planning officer - to approve our application.  It was indicated on the planning website first thing this morning (about the same time as Dave stepped into No. 10) although we haven't had the decision notice yet, so still don't know what conditions they'll attach.  But at least we know for sure now that it's approved.

Met one of our prospective builders last night to 'interview' him for suitability and availability.  Had some useful discussions, so he's on the list.  Trying to find time to meet a few more whilst the Building Regs drawings are being finalised, so that we can then invite tenders as soon as they're ready.

Also noticed that our neighbour has started fencing the paddock in front of the barn with what looks like a stockproof fence.  We hope so, as that will retain the open aspect and mean we still have a view down the valley.

Work restarts

With planning almost secured, and the sun shining, we resumed operations at the barn today.  Had to give the grass a cut, Misan with the mower, me with the strimmer.  We kept encountering stones in the undergrowth, blocks of ironstone either off the barn walls or, more likely, from an old retaining wall across the plot that is now buried in vegetation.  So decided to collect them up, and gathered about ten barrow loads that we've saved, 'cos I'm sure we'll need every stone we can find when it comes to repairing and raising the barn walls.  Found some interesting creatures under one:


Then almost destroyed my chainsaw in taking down the remaining trunk of our big willow tree.  Took about an hour, and 3 tanks of petrol and chain saw oil, before it finally cut through.  Don't know what we're gonna do with the trunk now.  It's about 5' high, 3' diameter and impossible to lift, so we'll have to see if the digger can do something with it once the builder starts.


Took a couple of photos, inside and out, that we'll repeat as work progresses.  Here's the starting point:

Almost there ....

7.5 weeks into the 8 week planning period (week 26 since we bought it - that's 6 months), and we've had the nod from the planners that we should get approval before Weds next week to our application .  Phew!  When you're so much in the planners hands, and when they have so much power, it's nervewracking, no matter how much homework you've done (and we think we've done a lot).  Just have to see what conditions they attach now.


The blog may have been quiet over recent weeks, but it don't mean we ain't been busy - we've been doing loads.  Sorted out how we think we're going to do the heating/energy source, and met on site with our builder/developer friend to discuss further about how we might keep the walls in place whilst we do the conversion.  We've also got the architect and engineer going on the Building Regs drawings, and drawn up a shortlist of builders that we want to check for suitability and, more importantly, availability - before we start to talk prices!


So we're 3 months behind where we thought we'd be by this time, but (almost) ready for a flying start once the planning permission is granted next week - provided it comes, and we can meet their conditions quickly enough.


The fun's about to start.

Low profile

Four weeks into the 8 week 'approval' period (Week 22.5 overall), and we continue to keep a low profile whilst the planners decide on our application.

Mind you, Misan did phone them today to check on progress, and got the feeling that everythings on the right track.  This was followed by an email from the planner raising four points for amendment, so the architect has a little bit of work to do in amending the application to address the planners' concerns.

Advice - while you wait

We're 2.5 weeks into the 8 week planning consultation period (week 21 since we bought the barn), and waiting nervously for any developments.  Of course, we don't want to hear anything, 'cos no news is good news.  Let the planners complete the process without any objections and approve our application by mid-May.


Meanwhile, we've been carrying out our own consultations.  Went to the Homebuilding & Renovating Show at NEC a few weeks ago, and spoke to various reps about heating, roof slates, range ovens, etc.  Pretty good, but a bit overpowering at times with the heavy sell.


Then we've met our developer friend again and got more ideas about how we might organise the building work, as well as how we get through Building Regs and arrange a warranty.  One concern is - it might be tight to be living there by Christmas.


I've also met our engineer together with our developer friend to talk 'buildability', and although the engineer was understandably cautious (almost to the point of being pessimistic) about what may happen once we start to dig near the existing wobbly walls, the developer was far more positive and even excited about the prospect of the conversion.


And today we visited the National Self Build Centre in Swindon.  It's great there; real, impartial advice and demonstrations about all aspects of self building, including cut away sections of parts of houses showing, for example, how a foundation and ground floor are constructed, or where the insulation fits in a roof.  Best of all was we got some sound advice on how we might provide heat and hot water to all parts of the barn using renewable technology.  We think we might have a solution that will allow us to use ground source for underfloor heating on the ground floor and fan-assisted radiators upstairs.


Called in at the barn on the way home, to discover we had a lodger - a tabby cat snuggled up on the dry straw in our old lean-to keeping out of the April showers.  A new look at the layout suggests we might have enough land for ground loops if only the ground floor has underfloor heating.  We hope so.

Ivy's gone

Finally got the remainder of the ivy off the road gable (and part of the roof) at the weekend.  What a job!  Ivy tangles round itself as it grows, and it clings (like it's life depends on it - and it did, but not any more) to the joints in the stonework with it's fibrous roots.  So a fair bit of mortar came off with the ivy, but it all has to be repointed anyway so that's no real problem.  Fortunately there were no nesting birds in there, which was my main concern.  If you want to see what it looked like before, check Google Maps which now has a good StreetView photo of this wall.

Also had a site visit from a good friend and ex-work colleague who is now a property developer.  He gave us some great advice and is meeting us later this week to tell us more.  He's really excited about the barn but fears he's too busy to get formally involved, at least for the next year or so.  Mind you, the time things are taking at the moment that might just fit in!

And had another chat with our neighbour to (almost) conclude agreement about the fence and removing his willow tree.  Looks like removing that tree will be our first job next weekend.  Meanwhile, managed to scramble onto our old lean-to roof to get the little tree off the top of our 'Pisa' wall.

At last, it's registered

Finally the planners have 'validated' our planning application, so it's been registered today (Week 18.5).  They queried it for a week or so, thinking that our proposed lean-to was encroaching onto our neighbour's property, until we pointed out that the building's on our property and it's the neighbours fence that's in the wrong place!

So that fence is still causing a little irritation, but we've almost concluded an agreement with the neighbour now that should suit us both.

Our proposals are all on the South Northants Council's planning website at http://snc.planning-register.co.uk/PlanAppSrch.asp.  Search for our our application reference numbers S/2010/0279/FUL (this has all the drawings in) or S/2010/0280/LBC.

The 8 week consideration period starts today, so we have everything crossed that we'll get approval by mid-May.  We might even start some of the preparatory works (improving the access, some groundworks?) under the existing approval in the meantime.

Now, who'd like to buy a lovely house in Warwick ???

A little application

Planning application was eventually submitted on Monday, i.e. at the start of Week 17.  We made a few last minute tweaks to the fireplace that we hope the planners won't find objectionable.  Now we just have to wait 8 weeks for their decision.


The application should appear on the council's website soon.  If you fancy finding it as soon as it's on, you can try http://www.southnorthants.gov.uk/planning_building/209.htm

15 weeks, and counting

We completed the barn purchase on 6 Nov 2009.  So counting week commencing 9 Nov as Week 1, we've just completed Week 15.  We'll log it that way from now on. 


Took the last of the 'slates' to the tip at the weekend, so we're rid of all the asbestos from the barn now.  That's a relief.


Also got the architects first draft of planning drawings.  They look good, but we've told him they need a few changes to reflect what we've discussed informally with the planners.  Now need the engineer's confirmation about foundation solutions - but he's waiting for the results of the soil tests, which he expected last Friday, so we hope that gets sorted early this week.  Then we'll complete the planning application and get it submitted - by the end of the week?

Trials and Tribulations

Our posts have tailed off in the last few weeks, not because of inactivity at the barn but because of a really sad event in my sister's family.  But we have to keep going so ...


We got a man and mini-digger in last weekend to dig some trial holes.  A load around the perimeter to find out where the underside of the walls is (answer: only a foot down), what their foundation is (answer: nothing) and what soil they're on (answer: the worst kind of clay that shrinks and expands over the seasons).  Also dug one hole to a depth of 2 metres to find out where the clay finished and good founding soil started (answer: about 1.5 metres down).

So what do these findings all mean?  Well, bad news, bad news, really bad news and ... given the first three, erm ... s'pose it could have been worse.




Fortunately the engineer is good.  He thinks he can find a solution that will get through the clay without the need for piling (and might negate the effects of next door's tree) so won't be too expensive - not cheap, but not as much as piling.  We're waiting to see that, so that the architect can complete the planning drawings this week and get the application submitted.

We had to remove the barn door to get the digger in - which really shows the outward lean on the wall that's presently propped up by the existing lean-to!


Also took a trailer load of old slates to the tip - only to be told they were probably asbestos cement, so had to be double bagged and sealed.  Apparently you're allowed to dispose of 2 single tiles and one drain pipe per annum, and we've got 4 trailer loads of this stuff.  We've managed to negotiate for 3 loads, don't know what we'll do about the 4th - might be time to find a tip in Oxfordshire!

One small step ...

Got an email from the planners today saying that although they still have some concerns about our fireplace proposals, they would prefer the brick one - which is a shame 'cos we prefer the appearance of the stone one (with a freestanding fire) although we would like it in brick!  We might even move it to be against the gable end wall - not sure yet.

Also spoke to the structural engineer about how we can get things moving.  He's going to send us a plan with suggested trial hole positions, so that we can get a contractor in and start some digging!  That should enable us to establish where the undersides of the existing walls are and what type of soil we've got.  The engineer should then be able to give us some firmer ideas about foundation options (and so costs).

And the mystery of the lost key is resolved.  The post office had held onto it for 16 days due to 'insufficient postage'.  So two 1st class stamps ain't enough these days for a 6x4 envelope containing a tiny key weighing a few grams.

We're trying a breast reduction

The architect has sketched a slimmer chimney breast, so that's gone off to the planners and we're still waiting to hear from them.  Tell us which one you prefer (sign on as a Follower and leave a Comment).

He also went to the barn last week to do a survey of the existing building and surroundings.  The snow didn't stop him, but without a key (Misan posted one to him 2 weeks ago, but he didn't receive it) he couldn't get in to survey inside.  He reckons he has enough data from some previous measurements to be able to complete the planning drawings.  We hope so, 'cos time's passing and we want the application in by end January.

We've yet to hear from the structural engineer.  Think I'll have to call him next week to chivvy him alomg too.  Meanwhile I'm working in Copenhagen again from Mon-Thu each week until Easter, so it's down to Misan to be the local project manager whilst I try to keep in touch by phone and email.  It has worked OK so far, although I did send one email to the planner instead of to Misan, signed off with love and kisses.  Maybe thats why he hasn't replied about our latest sketches yet!

I ain't getting out

My sister, Ann, visited the barn today together with my Mum & Dad.  Ann & Dad had a good look around inside and out - Ann thinks we're really brave to take this on.  It was a bright, sunny day, although only slightly above freezing.  We witnessed the geese chasing the sheep across the paddock, and saw a deer grazing on the grass bank alongside the M40 on our way down.

It must have been cold - Mum was only prepared to view the barn from the inside of the car.