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.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Friday, 2 April 2010
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.
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.
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