Faster than a speeding train.....?

.......well, not exactly, but I am impressed by the speed shown by Mid Beds District Council in processing our new application. Having submitted our revised plan on the 13th January, we heard that letters had already been received by near neighbours (to the plot) on the 16th. Oddly, the letters have been sent to a slightly different group than received the first application - perhaps because a different planning officer was involved as ours is still sick. I'm quite pleased at this because someone who we thought wrote against our first plan has not been included this time. Instead, a house that cannot possibly see our development from any point on their property, has been added. We also hope that one of the residents of Brookvale Cottages who wrote against our plans will not bother this time round.

All our plans and supporting documents have been scanned in and are viewable to check progress on the development control computer system. So, only 6 weeks to wait now.....sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Not wanting to let the grass grow under our feet I decided that the hedgerow that seperates our plot from the field needed some attention. A quick inspection by the green-fingered Mrs Bob, determined that the brambles should be removed, dead wood taken out, and various branches that interfere with the garage roof and those that might be in the way of the build, should be cut back. So, yours truly set off yesterday, looking a little like the Michelin man - with thermals, and padded shirt, to attack the hedge! Trouble was the hedge fought back! I now sport some nice scratches on nose, forehead, and wrists where the bramble didn't enter into the spirit of things. Still, two and a half hours of hacking away have produced a much tidier hedge, although the greengage tree requires a bit more serious attention as a couple of relatively substantial branches will need to be lopped (with the aid of a ladder). I had hoped to do that today but as it rained all night and continues as I write (key?), then it looks like next weekend before I can finish that.

Scratched of Clifton

Happy New Year

Well, its a New Year, Christmas is truly forgotten and the world looks a bleaker place, but, into action once again - Englands versus Planners!

Just prior to Christmas I sacked our architect as we had just lost confidence following the string of errors and poor judgements. However, I was recommended a firm of building surveyors and I made an appointment to see them on the 8th January. Encouragingly, on the dot of the arranged time, the surveyor turned up with his draughtsman and we discussed the new application. I had put together an information pack and we reviewed its contents. "Not sure that you need us at the moment" said the surveyor. "You'll probably be able to submit the drawings you've done as they're quite acceptable. Why not have a word with the planners?" After that we went to the site and he made various sensible comments about he plot, the need for using the style of the existing cottages, and other pertinent comments. He even went so far as to say that from his experience, if the planners did turn down our latest application, he was convinced we would win on appeal. I like this man! And with a cheery "Let us know when you get planning and we'll do the building control drawings" he was gone.

The following Saturday I decided to put together a really professional pack (well, as best as I could) for the planners so redrew all the elevations and plans - all to the correct 1:100 scale - and completed the 12 page application form. A natty little folder from the office completed the pack. A quick check of the instructions for submitting a planning application revealed that 3 copies of each document were required. So half a tree later - three packs ready to submit.

My planning officer has been on sick leave since before Christmas. I discovered this after several days of asking for her and leaving messages. Although her return was forecast for Monday 12th, it appears she has been signed of for at least another week. So, action was called for - can't sit around waiting! I popped up to the council offices today, with my application pack in hand and asked for the duty planning officer (available on demand every afternoon of the week). A somewhat harassed gentleman appeared neither pleasant nor nasty, just (in the vernacular) - stressed - its seemed. I asked if he would review my application which he duly did and apart from an observation that the elevations should show the direction they face, and that my "upper floor" should read "first floor", he said they were fine. Great - rushed back to the office, made the corrections, reprinted 8 pages (x 3 copies) and put the packs back together, popped them in an envelope, and back to the council offices to register the application.

Now comes the hard part - an 8 week wait for a decision. Never mind, we've been looking at bathroom "stuff" this weekend - hasn't the world of the "lav" moved on? Weighed down with massively heavy brochures, we were in a whirl. But, Jan settled down over a couple of nights and we now have whittled down all the options to a theme and presented out local bathroom company with our requirements for them to come up with some designs. Next on the list - kitchens.

And so, within 5 days of seeing the surveyor, a new application with revised plans and drawings has been produced and submitted. Rather beats the 14 weeks my previous architect took!

After the rather depressing week before Christmas, we're both feeling rather more positive.

Optimistic of Clifton