'modern' cottage-can I make one?

[jess marley]

I use the inverted commas because I want to scout out opinions on straw bale and cob building really, enjoying a renaissance I know BUT, is there any chance, do you think, of changing the o.p.p for a three bed 'exec' style hse in our back garden, (applied for and granted to previous owners) to a modern, smaller cottage, a starter home of alternative (traditional) construction...I'd like to build it myself really, out of mud, or sraw...is this VERY stupid? If I conform to building regs etc, will it be mortgageable?
The o.p.p granted at the mo involves the demolition of out-buildings and general despoilment of the existing (Georgian) house, but I begin to wonder, is there another way? How fixed is o.p.p? PLEASE don't tell me I should have researched all this before we bought, I know I know, I just always felt that this house would be worth the effort , and the risk.
Thanks, Jess.

 

[biffvernon]

Go for it. First step is to buy the book: Building with Straw Bales, Barbara Jones. Check out the Amazon Nails website, then talk to the author, barbara@strawbalefutures.org.uk

 

[Nemesis]

You can't simply 'go for it' however - you will have to start from scratch with new planning permissions etc.

 

[Lime]

The biggest job at hand is making yourself totally conversant with the techniques and law because the majority of those you will have to deal with will be in total or partial (worse) ignorance.

 

[jess marley]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, all, aren't you all up early!
Whilst I think my husband hopes the whole idea will go away, it's something I think seems such a natural progression from building conservation.
I achieved the first tiny step toward it last week tho' when I managed to get a letter from the interested party concerned to the effect that they have no objection to us building on our plot, despite the VERY restrictive covenants imposed by their property on ours. Hooray!

On a different topic, I got my slater's rip this morning and can start to repair our bathroom roof..(see thread 'rotten old roof comes good'). Super speedy delivery from a tool company recommended by Biff, thanks for that.
[/quote]

 

[Penners]

Jess, as others have said, the first thing to do is to research your subject. Get yourself fully conversant with building techniques for straw bale buildings, so that you know what you're talking about. (My apologies if you already do!!)

Then go and talk to a planning officer informally, to ask whether your planned building would be acceptable.

I don't think you can do these two things the other way around. If you turn up at the planning department and sound as though you don't know your subject, I reckon you'd stand much less chance of your ideas being considered favourably.

 

[middi]

As Penners suggested, you have got to istall confidence about the subject to the planners, the chances are that unless they do their own research they will not have a clue about building regs as applicable to a cob or straw bales walls, the chances are that unless you are armed with the correct coefficients regarding heat losses, structural stability, fire regs, etc....etc.....your nice idyllic cottage will have to be lined and supported with all sorts of modern claddings, hence defeating the original concept.

Not only you should have a pretty good knowledge about the subject ( you may do !!), you will need detailled drawings by a knowledgeable architect which shows and satisfies with authority that all the above criteria meets current B/regulations.

It would be a very interesting project.

 

[jess marley]

Lots of homework then...and I guess I should get in touch with a variety of lenders, not just the ecological variety, to see what their criteria would be for agreeing to mortgage such a building.

 

[biffvernon]

The Ecology Buildig Society have a srawbale meeting room.

 

[Nemesis]

http://www.strawbale-building.co.uk/index.php?page=pictures


http://www.permaculture.co.uk/mag/Articles/Strawbale.html

 

[NT]

It seems unusual to want to reduce size of extension, since this will generally reduce its value a fair bit.

NT

 

[jess marley]

That's because the reduction in size relates to a completely new dwelling in the back garden of our existing house.
If we were to build the house that there is o.p.p for, it removes half the garden and vehicular access from the main highway from the existing house thus reducing it's value. Therefore in this case, the smaller value of the new build, might well be offset by the value of the old house being retained.
The plans as they are, look very much like nobody thought that the present house was worth saving, (clearly rubbish) and all it was good for was a quick and nasty renovation, whilst it's primary value lay in the possibility of a new building in the back garden.
I am strongly of the oponion that this is a misconception based on a lack of knowledge re. how simply houses can be returned to usage if renovated sympathetically and with appropriate materials.
However, I also think that the opportunity to build a dwelling which compliments, rather than obliterates an old one is a fantastic project, and that there are quite enough nasty new builds locally already.
Sorry, I'll go and lie down for a bit.

 

[Nemesis]

We bought the adjacent land with pp on it for a house, in order that it could remain unbuilt on.

 

[Lime]

We bought the adjacent land with pp on it for a house, in order that it could remain unbuilt on.

If only more people would do the same.

 

[Nemesis]

Seemed a shame. It was historically a small piece of Inclosure Act land, belonging to the house.

Anyhow - we prefer a bit of land with trees to close neighbours! It was worth the costs, although I appreciate land values now are such I doubt we could do it again.

But it's sad how many are cramming houses into their gardens. One near us - a beautiful old high stone wall butchered for a new entrance, repaired with cement - a major feature of our village now spoilt.

 

[biffvernon]

Yeah. I blame all those silly people who want houses to live in.

 

[Nemesis]

Plenty of other land available without demolishing a 200 year old wall around a walled garden which adds to the character of the village.

Many houses built round us in very recent times, and plots of spare land nearby for sale.

 

[middi]

I betect a bit of the "NIMBY please" manifesting itself Nemesis.

I agree with Biff and disapprove with the fact that people have to have houses to live in. :roll:

 

[Nemesis]

I didn't object to the low cost housing being built on the field which was once the village green. I have had no objections to many other houses being built around us.

I didn't want a piece of woodland which gives many people pleasure (adjacent to a path, and which forms part of our view) ) destroyed so a previous owner of our home could split the land and make a mint when he sold.

So - we bought the land, along with the trees. And have kept it as a piece of land.

I do care very much for a wall which is a major part of our village being destroyed.

So - if I'm a NIMBY - fine.

 

[Moo]

It's sometimes a question of supply and demand, though. In city centres shortage of land has meant that, over the centuries, very few gardens remain and anything bigger than a back-yard is now a real bonus.
In the suburbs and countryside however there is, as Nemesis pointed out, sufficient spare land for this not to be necessary. If a large house has acres of land and the cash-strapped owner is faced with a hefty maintenance bill, there is often no alternative to selling off a bit for development. The real crime is where a garden shrinks to a point of incongruity just so that the current owner can/could make a fast buck. It's gratifying to see how the price drops and drops when, eventually, the vandal tries to sell the original house. But the damage has been done, hasn't it?