We've started!

The new internal layout

The plot today - 4th April 2009.

Having become thoroughly frustrated by planners, the parish council, and one particular neighbour at Brookvale, we decided that we would go with the original approved design, but change the internal layout to suit our needs and try and make the best of the house and plot. So, with a couple of minor changes that needed planning approval - the addition of some french doors in the lounge, a door from the utility room to the garden, and a new window in a shower room. These have now been approved, and although we feel that the position of the house on the plot is not the best, we won't be bothered by further planning nightmares, and of course the extra cost of the Section 106 agreement (read tax) which is now being applied (at least £9000 in our case).

Our new layout is shown above together with a picture of the plot this morning. You can just make out a white line about half way up on the right hand side. This is part of the marking out for the foundations! Our groundworker is starting on Tuesday 7th April, and we will have foundations complete by 17th April.

We've found an excellent firm of building surveyors - Templars of Baldock - who have drawn up some basic plans and submitted them for building control approval. These are just a simple set of plans to meet building control needs and don't reflect our actual requirements.

Mind you, we've still got a couple of hurdles to overcome. Firstly, in theory before we start, we have to obtain approval from the district council for materials to be used - bricks and tiles. Apparently, the samples we have submitted don't appear to be a problem, but we have to wait for formal acceptance (would you expect anything less!). And, we also have to wait for another planner to approve the landscaping we have proposed. However, as we won't be laying bricks at this stage, let alone roof tiles, we will carry on with the foundations as they don't affect either of these requirements.

Of course, things wouldn't be complete without some more hassle. The awkward neighbour has already complained to a senior planning officer saying our build should not start until we've widened the access road. Just for good measure he's also complained about one neighbour's proposed extension, said another neighbour's garage had been built without planning permission (which it didn't need), that the link from our plot to the foul sewer was installed "illegally", and that the owner of number 1 Brookvale is multi-tenanting (he allows his staff to lodge at the house during the week!). This guy's hobby seems to be emailing the council with complaints.

Apparently a senior planning officer visited Brookvale yesterday, totally bemused by the rantings of this idiot who appears to be a very sad and lonely person. He's certainly got few friends at Brookvale. Fortunately the planning people seem to regard him as something of a pain in the glutimus maximus ! Having seen this charmless person last weekend, we were given a rather nervous smile as he walked past. Pity he didn't have the courage to say something then. Trouble is I guess that email gives people courage they don't have in face to face situations.

The next stage is to agree the internal layout and detail, draw up plans, submit them to building control for approval, and then get stuck in!

So, watch this space for developments as they happen.

Relieved of Clifton