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!