Design to suit plot, or find plot to suit design.

AHarvey · 22 Sep 2010 at 15:25

building my own house is something I would love to do, financially nowhere near possible and I want to start my photography business first.

I'd be happy with a building job tbh, learning a proper trade, but at 29 and having bills to pay, starting out in the building trade is near impossible

Pate · 22 Sep 2010 at 15:58

DB_SamX said:
Plot first, then work on a plan with an architect. Jack of all trades or not, it would be near impossible for you to get planning permission and satisfy all Building Reg requirements without their input. Then you've got structural and infrastructure engineers to do their part as well. Not as easy as it might seem.

Fr0dders · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:09

Have you considered a Flatpack / Kit Home ?

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/diy-self-build/kit-houses/

Very flexible, very easy to customize the home exactly how you want, and being timber based incredibly quick to erect. With each home being built to order, you can easily change the layout of rooms / doors etc.. prior to delivery, for little extra cost.

Home channel on Sky had a dedicated TV series on it called "My Flat Pack Home"

http://uktv.co.uk/home/dgiped/kw/228

They featured one couple who bought a home from Potton.

http://www.potton.co.uk/

They can handle planning and everything for you.

It's what i'll be doing at some point.

the_r_sole · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:26

if the op has a site in the countryside i would suggest a one-off design would be a much better way to go, to get that opportunity and put a standard kit house on it seems a total waste, if it was in the suburbs or another built up area then fine but a unique house suited and designed specifically to the ops needs and wants should be the better option on a rural plot.
(also for planning in a sensitive area there can be lots of doors opened by building something of "significant architectural merit", some planners would immediately reject a standard kit on a sensitive plot)

DM · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:32

Get the plot, get permission in principle then build.

Dont undertake this lightly, iv done a few they always go over budget and take longer than expected.

I personally wouldnt undertake it at all if i was working with a mortgage unless i had a chunk put by for the unexpected, 1500 quid a month does not constitute a chunk.

Fr0dders · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:34

the_r_sole said:
if the op has a site in the countryside i would suggest a one-off design would be a much better way to go, to get that opportunity and put a standard kit house on it seems a total waste, if it was in the suburbs or another built up area then fine but a unique house suited and designed specifically to the ops needs and wants should be the better option on a rural plot.

You've blatently not read any of the links ive posted

Kit homes is merely a cheap and quick method of delivering a house. The design can be entirely to your own spec if you want. Equally the choice of exterior design is totally up to you to decide

You can have cladding / render / brick or any combination of the above. Just because it comes as a kit doesnt mean your forced to use the off the shelf design. It just means it can be watertight in a month because it comes in prefabricated sections.

the_r_sole · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:38

MrLOL said:
You've blatently not read any of the links ive posted

Kit homes is merely a cheap and quick method of delivering a house. The design can be entirely to your own spec if you want. Equally the choice of exterior design is totally up to you to decide

You can have cladding / render / brick or any combination of the above. Just because it comes as a kit doesnt mean your forced to use the off the shelf design. It just means it can be watertight in a month because it comes in prefabricated sections.

sorry, i do understand what a kit house is, and yes i've looked at the links - standard houses!
you can dress them up anyway you want that is true, what i'm talking about is actually designing a house that responds to the ops needs rather than picking a set of components to assemble...

Fr0dders · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:39

what exactly is standard if you can change any part of the design you like ?

DM · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:40

the_r_sole said:
if the op has a site in the countryside i would suggest a one-off design would be a much better way to go, to get that opportunity and put a standard kit house on it seems a total waste, if it was in the suburbs or another built up area then fine but a unique house suited and designed specifically to the ops needs and wants should be the better option on a rural plot.
(also for planning in a sensitive area there can be lots of doors opened by building something of "significant architectural merit", some planners would immediately reject a standard kit on a sensitive plot)

That hasnt been my experience, iv never seen anything they consider of "significant architectural merit" that was newly built, especially in a rural area, all they want is "in keeping"

Fr0dders · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:42

exactly

I think he's got some grand designs esque project with bespoke materials in mind, the guy is on a sole income of 23.5k / year and with little capital

Its not what the OP is going to be able to do.

DM · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:44

MrLOL said:
exactly

I think he's got some grand designs esque project with bespoke materials in mind, the guy is on a sole income of 23.5k / year and with little capital

Its not what the OP is going to be able to do.

I can see what hes saying about architectural merit, if you are building a town hall / public building or even an apartment complex, but this bloke aint, hes building a house.

And in my many rows with planning over the years all i ever here is "in keeping"

Fr0dders · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:47

yeah countryside and "architectural merit" dont mix with the UK planning Nazis i mean authorities.

the_r_sole · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:47

mrLOL, everthing is standard! it's like picking components for a pc, you can assemble them your own way but you are still working with standard components, there is no scope to actually design to the specific context, and if you are wanting to change every single aspect of it why bother?!

diamondmark - there is a planning policy that relates to this directly, it's just convincing them what architectural merit is!

and for the record non-standard and unique don't mean expensive (all the time)

DM · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:49

the_r_sole said:
diamondmark - there is a planning policy that relates to this directly, it's just convincing them what architectural merit is!

If thats the case iv never managed to convince them, iv always been lucky to get away with just building at all.

Confused · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:51

My dad's built an extension to his bungalow, and the only bits he's not done himself are the roofing timbers (although he helped whilst they were being done), commissioned the gas (although he ran all the pipework, just let the plumber make the final connections), and sign off the electrics.

Throughout it all, he's had advice/guidance from the building inspector at every stage - but all in all, it's all been done correctly and right.

My friend's parents had an extension on their house 2m deep, 6m wide, single-story, and it cost them over £60k. My dad's is 7.5m by 7.5m, single storey too - including the full kitchen & all appliances, he's spent less than £25k.

I'd love to build a house, unfortunately lack of capital is preventing that.

DM · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:54

the_r_sole said:
and for the record non-standard and unique don't mean expensive (all the time)

No but it does mean time consuming which is money depending what you do.

Like right now i will travel ANYWHERE for a large quantity of Cotswold stone because i have run out of patience trying to get it local and cheap, if you have the time anything can be done cheaper.

the_r_sole · 22 Sep 2010 at 16:56

DiamondMark said:
If thats the case iv never managed to convince them, iv always been lucky to get away with just building at all.

did you not see the meier house that mr bean is going to build? if the planning department can be convinced a white cube has architectural merit then who knows!!

in england: PPG7 states that 'an isolated new house in the countryside' may be justified if it is 'truly outstanding in terms of its architecture and landscape design, and would significantly enhance its immediate setting and wider surroundings'.

DM · 22 Sep 2010 at 17:06

the_r_sole said:
did you not see the meier house that mr bean is going to build? if the planning department can be convinced a white cube has architectural merit then who knows!!

in england: PPG7 states that 'an isolated new house in the countryside' may be justified if it is 'truly outstanding in terms of its architecture and landscape design, and would significantly enhance its immediate setting and wider surroundings'.

I dont doubt that for a minute, what im saying is iv yet to find any planners that were ever interested in anything other than "in keeping with surroundings" regardless of the latest and greatest directives.

PlacidCasual · 22 Sep 2010 at 17:20

@ScubaScorpion

I have no idea what level of knowledge you have regarding building etc but can I suggest you buy and read "The Housebuilders Bible 8th Edition" by Mark Brinkley it is a fantastic book that will help you shape your thoughts for more detailed investigation of the subject.

the_r_sole · 22 Sep 2010 at 17:46

DiamondMark said:
I dont doubt that for a minute, what im saying is iv yet to find any planners that were ever interested in anything other than "in keeping with surroundings" regardless of the latest and greatest directives.

it really is down to you to convince them of the quality of the design, some times the old school guys need to be avoided and the head of the office contacted directly (from experience), i've actually done an application where we had to wait until a certain officer went on their annual leave before submitting!