One Man Banned Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Well I haven't been on here as much of late but with work and going away for the weekend - my remaining online time has been spent looking at self build projects and plots of land! We've sort of decided that as we cannot find anything we like that we can afford we may as well just build our own home. I've luckily found a plot of just under half and acre in Nailsworth Stroud, on top of the hill overlooking a lovely place called Nympsfield with the only 1 wind turbine in Stroud!! I've found a nice oak timber frame property by www.borderoak.co.uk that we can adjust slightly to make it fit in with the cotswold stone properties in the area. The land has no planning permission at the moment but no-one has ever tried to apply for permission. So I have spoken to the council and they just want me to drop a letter to them with an outline of what we want to do. Well that's easy - build the house with geo-thermal heating from the ground, some solar heating panels and possibly a small wind turbine or solar voltaic (sp?) panels as well as some room for garden, chicken area, veg plots and garage and parking. Hopefully with the eco-heating and power options it would make it more appeasing to the council to allow permission. I feel really excited and completely overwhelmed at the same time - we've never done anything like this at all and so I'm just going to have to roll with it! What do you guys think - Are we mad? A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Well it's what me and OH want to do at some point, so hopefully not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 You are a bit mad, but in a good way It sounds like a great idea to me & a fab project. A "Grand Design" maybe??? If its what you & Joe truly want, then all I would say is go for it.....but make sure you go in with your eyes wide open to all the potential problems & pitfalls there are. As someone who renovated a very old derilict property & now has a wonderful home,I can only say that its all worth it in the end & offer you my very,very best wishes that it all goes well ps - I love those oak framed buildings too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Not at all mad................if it's your dream go for it Just wish I had the money, time, energy and courage to do something like this. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Ditto what others have said - I think its a fantastic idea. Well done for finding some land. In Life BC (before child) its what we wanted to do, but we realised we did not have enough time in amongst other things (mostly work but I was pregnant at the time....). We did put a bid in for an old railway station in Norfolk that needed a huge amount of work to convert (it even had bats nesting in it) but we did not get it, we should have bid higher. It was near Bernard Matthews though so there was a downside.... Hope you have great fun with your project - keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 A fantastic idea scary alarming etc. at the same time, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and go for something if you want it badly enough karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Not mad at all Andrew We wanted to do the same recently but finding plots of land near me is like trying to find hens teeth All the big building companys snap them up. Anyway we found a perfect 2 acre plot but was told by the council that we would never get planning I was gutted It is not as expensive as people think but you might be grey and bald by the end of it with the stress Go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Wowee Andrew - what a fab project. A real dream come true. Being a bit mad definately helps too Wishing you all the best with it. Will keep an eye on this thread with great interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Oh, go for it, Andrew! You'll probably have a mixture of joy and despair along the way, but ultimately a fantastic result and a huge sense of achievement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Just do it Andrew BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 completely mad but only the mad have fun, the rest just stand round worrying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Great idea but as said go in with your eyes wide open! My parents did a self build about 20 years ago and it takes much longer than expected so keep this in mind! You also will need to decide if you will manage the project yourself or get someone to do it for you Sounds ace though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Wow Andrew - sounds like a fabulous idea! Be prepared for a lot of hard work (and probably stress) along the way but if you end up with your perfect house then go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Go for it. This isn't the dress rehearsal. Follow your dream. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I have to say go for it as well - but then we're mad as well We looked at Border Oak when we were looking for a plot - and the house we are in now is a Potton oak framed self build - just not built by us. http://www.potton.co.uk/ The stone for our house comes from a small quarry at Bourton on the Water - not as yellow as most cotswold stone, a nice grey. There is a great magazine which my son has, called Self Build - it's worth getting hold of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 if your mad so are the rest of us I'll be so jealous. Honestly though I doubt it's an easy option but think, how mucj would you regret it if you didn't have a go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 A brilliantly mad idea, Andrew, I think it's great. But, I wouldn't dare be too excited without planning permission, although presumably not as difficult as around here.........good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I say GO FOR IT You are both young and if you have a good opportunity then take the bull by the horns and go for your dream. I know like you that house prices in this country are crazy and that for something you really want is always out of our reach. By building your own home you can have something to YOUR specification. Building a house will be way cheaper than buying a house and you will make money as soon as its built - so you cant lose really. Of course building your own doesnt come without its ups and downs - be prepared to be stressed and any estimates you get - the saying is "double them", get some good advice and a good builder/architect !! I really hope you go for it my outlook is that you only have one life and make the most of it, live your dreams and if it didnt work out - you always have each other!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I go along with your philosophy on life, Chelsea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riane Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 good luck we have just closed the file on a renovation project...we looked in to the building costs ...not too bad... but connecting up to the mains water and electric....blew the budget. But if you do all your research carefully the dream could be yours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Fab news Andrew - go for it Boy! If I had the money, I'd probbaly do the same, in fact I was discussing it today. You need to go to http://www.greenshop.co.uk not too far from you and fab advisors of all things to do with sustainable/green building. In fact we were out there just today - take a potter in the surrounding countryside while you're there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted April 11, 2007 Author Share Posted April 11, 2007 WoW! What a response from you guys! Well we are really looking forward to the challenge, and I'm having to plough my thoughts into this letter tomorrow. My mum is coming to see me tomorrow and I'll be popping over to the Green Shop (thank's Claret - forgot all about them!) Joe's even considering buying the land anyway and give it a few years Not too sure about that myself though! Will obviously be updating this thread as things progress - it could be the Plot Life thread! Will welcome any suggestions though for lots of things, and have already got some details for eco paints (well it's justified shopping - thinking of interior decoration ) Thanks for your lovely thoughts, nice to know I'm in good company ! A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Good luck with your project Andrew You and Joe are young enough to do this. It will be fantastic A friend of mine looked at building a Borderoak home in Shropshire, but in the end found a 'renovation' project instead, that had a huge plot of land with it The only advice I can offer at the moment is 'if they tell you it will take a year and cost 100k' double it Loads and loads of best wishes, you lucky things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Great news Andrew! Annie has a grey water collection system at her place, but i guess you already know that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted April 11, 2007 Author Share Posted April 11, 2007 Great news Andrew! Annie has a grey water collection system at her place, but i guess you already know that. Actually I didn't - how interesting.....Look Out Annie!!......I may be coming down to see you soon! A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
