The Life of (a) Brian (and Family)

Well the plans for the house were completed Friday before last and submitted to WLC planning department.  I do feel a little bit rushed over this somehow and still concerned that it may be too big but we need to press on so they are in. Unfortunately the architect used the wrong form so they are not actually lodged with the council yet so that is 10 days lost. (one forward one back).

The other good bit of news is that BT are going to move the pole at their expense! The situation is thus; I spoke to BT Openreach wayleaves department (the most difficult department in the world to find) and then wrote to them with my Site plan (deeds) the Land Certificate and a sketch of where the pole was, and asked them if they had a wayleave for the pole being where it was. I expected to wait weeks, but the answer came back, no they didn’t.  As they were only going to offer £10 per year for the wayleave I am going to get it moved!  I had already paid to get a survey officer out to look at it as I thought I would still have to pay to get the line to one of the houses relocated. We had agreed the pole should go into the pavement on my boundary and this would mean that there would still be a wire stay on the plot, and I would put in ducts for the wire.  However, on further investigation, as they need to access my land to service the wire, they have to move that as well! Result.

BTW if you do need BT Openreach Wayleave department ring 0800 581525.

One of the things Karen has suggested is to name the house Yellowstruther.  This is the old name for this patch of land so it seems appropriate.  Many of the old OS maps are available on-line and after a quick search I found this from a 6in OS 1st edition map surveyed in 1852:

Map of Bellsquarry showing Yellowstruther

If you want to look at the source http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch/view/?sid=74426710&zoom=6&lat=8508&lon=7768&layers=B

From my last build, I know it is the roads department at your local council (for some reason) that deal with the allocation of new addresses.  So having spoken to the Council today, the address looks like it will be ‘Yellowstruther’ 38 Newpark Road.  Getting an address allocated is possible as there is already planning permission for the plot and having an address makes getting utilities sorted out so much easier, so the earlier it is done the better!

Another thing made easier from experience.

Well the game is well and truly afoot.  The bargain is complete; we are now proud owners of a plot of land and the task starts here.  The land itself was originally Karen’s grannies garden that was sold, but that we have now bought back.  It might seem an odd way of doing it, but it has all been cleared and that would have been hard for us to do.  It is in Bellsquarry and sits between 2 lots of cottages.

This StreetView view was taken when the cottage was being renovated and shows the extent of the plot we will build on.  If you zoom out, you will see what it was like before it was cleared.  There is an extra bit behind to the right, which will be David’s 5-a-side pitch!  The electricity pole has already gone so that is a good thing.

The aim is to build smaller than last time but get it complete before we move in.  Also much of the landscaping will be done so we don’t take 10 years to get it complete!  That is the plan anyway.

First stage is to get plans done and planning consent granted.  There is consent on the land already so the idea of a house on the site has been agreed but it needs to be our design.  Our first Architect has now retired so we have had to seek out someone else.  I think we have found someone we can work with and so we need to progress that.  I have identified who owns all the surrounding land as well so that is another job done.  The biggest issues right now are the BT pole that I need to do something with and the well.  Yes the well as in water.

I also need to start gathering some equipment.  The biggest difference this time is that I have enough capital to do a great deal of work and I can also buy equipment (to sell at the end) rather than having to hire it.  that should make a major difference.  The first few items are a container, a trailer and (possibly) a mini digger.  My key concern is the security of these items.

So what am I going to build? Firstly it will be very energy efficient.  There are 2 main elements of this, insulation and air tight.  I need to convince the joiner and designer of the importance of this but I am convinced and the customer is always right!  I have some novel ideas of how to achieve this which I am sure will be met with rolling eyes!  The build structure will also be different but I will leave that until it is all agreed.  I am hoping to cut out the brickies altogether using a piled foundation and insulated render exterior.  This is good for the environment and saves a huge amount of mess, no ‘muck-away’ of strip foundations etc.  Just got to confirm it really is cost effective.

Oh so much to do.  Really ought to get on!