Green Building Forum - Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:01:20 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273540#Comment_273540 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273540#Comment_273540 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 12:05:33 +0100 Jaspden123
My subject area and also passion is within alternative construction methods

(earthships, straw bale, hybrids etc.) and anything that has a low impact on the environment/natural materials (renewable tech, eco design, energy efficiency).

I also hope to have my own self build project on the go in a couple of years time (fingers crossed) so any information, experiences, stories or guides that anyone has would be gratefully appreciated.



Cheers,

Jonny]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273541#Comment_273541 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273541#Comment_273541 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 12:41:32 +0100 DarylP Any changes once you start building are more difficult to remedy compared to the 'paper' stage! ;-)
good luck..]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273542#Comment_273542 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273542#Comment_273542 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 14:07:17 +0100 djh Posted By: Jaspden123Hi everyone, I’m a builder and also a student in my final year of a construction degree. I’m trying to gather information about issues, challenges and successes self builders experience when planning/building there own home. Mainly in gaining planning permission and complying with constraints that a project has?
Hi Jonathan and welcome to the forum. I'm not clear what you mean with this paragraph. Are you saying that you think the main problems are with planning and constraints, or are you saying that that is where your interest is?

I agree with Daryl that one key to success is planning in as much detail as possible in advance and in having as much knowledge about the related areas as possible. And having access to somebody who can answer questions in any areas that you don't feel confident of (which this forum is an excellent resource for :).

Planning wasn't a big problem for us, but still it took a long time from finding a plot to starting to build, but it was time well spent. Knowing what you're looking for in a plot is a key skill, because you have to act fast when you find one, without skimping anything essential.

Things can go wrong very quickly when building, so I think it is important to be on site to resolve issues before they become major problems. Skills like project management, budgeting, people management are also important.]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273544#Comment_273544 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273544#Comment_273544 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 15:22:41 +0100 CWatters
It took us over a year and at least £10K to get planning permission for our house on a plot that already had planning permission. In addition I had to pay out for aircraft flights, hotels and car hire to return to the UK to attend meetings with the planners - which mostly achieved very little.

For a year the planners insisted our house must be built right at the front of our plot where it is narrow yet at the same time they wanted us to preserve a view (of the sky!) up through the plot. We made numerous attempts to satisfy their ever changing and conflicting demands.

There were several occasions when we submitted revised drawings and never got a response. After >4 weeks of waiting we would eventually discover that this was because the planning officer/conservation officer/tree officer had quit their job or gone on a long holiday. Some staff in the planning office only worked two days a week and were overloaded.

Just as we were about to give up we discover they had told a previous owner of the plot in writing that a "house further back might be better". When presented with this letter the planners rolled over and approved a design that was virtually identical to our original proposal a year earlier.]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273545#Comment_273545 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273545#Comment_273545 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:42:12 +0100 djh Posted By: CWattersthe planning officer/conservation officer/tree officer
Ouch! Yes, one of the things I was looking for in a plot was that it wasn't in a conservation area, and ideally didn't have any TPOs. We managed both of those, although we are next to a listed building which brought its own foibles.]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273548#Comment_273548 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273548#Comment_273548 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 21:32:53 +0100 Jaspden123
I agree that preparation and planning is key in the primary stages of any project, if it is to be successful.
This being said, I was wondering whether using alternative materials lengthens the early stages of a project. I’m sure their would be more requirements to adhere to, not just in gaining planning permission but also to passed by building control, structural engineers etc.

From the comments I can gather that your experiences have been long ones, but I was under the impression that the estimated turnaround for planning applications was12-16 week!?]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273549#Comment_273549 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273549#Comment_273549 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 22:14:16 +0100 djh Posted By: Jaspden123I am researching and trying to put together a kind of ‘how to guide’ in regards to gaining planning permission when using “non - traditional” methods of construction, i.e. instead of bricks and mortar, using strawbale, earth filled tyres, hempcrete blocks etc.
Planning permission has nothing to do with the construction materials. It is to do with the size, location and appearance of the building(s). Having said that, the fact that our application was viewed as an 'ecological, low energy' build because we used straw bales was an advantage with winning votes from the planning committee members.

Building regulations are the part of the process that are concerned with building materials and that is where the freedom to select a building inspector who is familiar with the proposed materials can be very helpful.

The time taken is not the length of time for the council to consider the application; it's the length of time before the application is submitted working out all the details that have been mentioned and preparing the submissions and reports that are needed. Since appearance is fundamental to planning permission, it is necessary to decide the exact position of all doors and windows and the outward appearance and colours of all external materials, for example.]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273552#Comment_273552 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273552#Comment_273552 Wed, 01 May 2019 08:48:57 +0100 PeterStarck Posted By: djh
Posted By: Jaspden123I am researching and trying to put together a kind of ‘how to guide’ in regards to gaining planning permission when using “non - traditional” methods of construction, i.e. instead of bricks and mortar, using strawbale, earth filled tyres, hempcrete blocks etc.

Planning permission has nothing to do with the construction materials. It is to do with the size, location and appearance of the building(s). Having said that, the fact that our application was viewed as an 'ecological, low energy' build because we used straw bales was an advantage with winning votes from the planning committee members.
Not strictly true as the rainscreen material is part of the wall construction and has a bearing on planning permission as does the roofing material. We designed a PH but our LPA wasn't interested in the least, but like you the planning committee members took that fact into account when overruling the planners.]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273571#Comment_273571 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273571#Comment_273571 Thu, 02 May 2019 20:35:09 +0100 Jaspden123
Thanks again 👍]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273573#Comment_273573 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273573#Comment_273573 Fri, 03 May 2019 01:01:55 +0100 djh https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200126/applications/58/the_decision-making_process and a bit more at https://www.eden.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning/apply-for-planning-permission/planning-applications-that-go-to-committee/ about how one council operates. The rules the councils are supposed to follow are explained a bit at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/determining-a-planning-application

Basically, things that are not controversial in any way can be decided by officers employed by the council. Anything large or controversial in any way is put before the planning committee, which is made up of elected district or borough councillors. Parish councils are formal consultees but their opinions generally do not count for much (they were the only objectors to our application).]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273577#Comment_273577 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273577#Comment_273577 Fri, 03 May 2019 08:10:23 +0100 PeterStarck Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273589#Comment_273589 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273589#Comment_273589 Fri, 03 May 2019 14:39:51 +0100 CWatters
However there are two occasions when they will accept something radically different:

1) In areas where there is already a mix of styles and materials (Heck what's one more unusual building).

2) On an extension to a historic/listed building. If they are going to allow an extension they frequently want it to appear obvious that the extension is more modern, they shy away from attempts to copy the style of the original, perhaps because they don't believe builders can achieve a good enough match.]]> Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273590#Comment_273590 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273590#Comment_273590 Fri, 03 May 2019 14:44:26 +0100 CWatters Alternative Self Build Projects & Planning Issues http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273594#Comment_273594 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16111&Focus=273594#Comment_273594 Fri, 03 May 2019 17:49:07 +0100 djh Posted By: CWatters1) In areas where there is already a mix of styles and materials (Heck what's one more unusual building).
We took lots of pictures of the nearby 60s & 70s estate houses in case the planners or committee decided they wanted something in the vernacular (thinking thatched cottages or whatever) :devil:

Fortunately they didn't.]]>