This picture is taken from where the house begins and it will end near the pigsty that you can see as an overgrown brick wall.
Yesterday we met with Andy from Potton, and Steve, our project manager for the initial build. We looked at the survey information, talked about foundations, and set out a time line. I know that in a year's time this may seem like a work of fiction, but here goes:
November 2009: initial drawings, followed by changes from us and discussion with neighbours.
January 2010: submit for planning approval
April 2010: planning should be finalised, and the kit ordered.
May 2010: foundations begin
June - July 2010: the house goes up!
October 2010: watertight, and we take over.
We don't want to make any major changes to the design that received planning permission, but we want to make some internal changes, including plenty of space for you all to park and sleep when you come to visit!
Main / upper floor rooms:
Lobby with space for coats, boots etc.
Shower / wetroom
Utility room with electrical centre
Study / sewing room – this will need to take a sofa bed & plenty of storage.
Open plan: lounge / dining area / kitchen
The main sitting area should be to the northwest aspect, with glazed folding doors, leading to the balcony.
Balcony: 3 metres deep (maximum planner will allow, original permission was for 2m.)
Lower ground floor:
Planners are happy for us to extend by 1 metre (under new balcony)
Rooms:
Master bedroom with shower / wetroom + walk-in wardrobe if possible.
Bed: 6 foot width
Glazed door in place of window
3 spare bedrooms:
2 must take a double ( 5 foot) bed with some space on either side (400-420mm. is enough)
The other could take twin beds, in which case they can be against the wall
Shower / wetroom
Linen store if possible
Attic / loft:
This should not compromise the main living area, and we’re not sure if it is possible, but we would like a “gallery” for bookcases, with door access to loft storage area.
We do not want a tight spiral staircase, or one that gets in the way of the aspect of the main floor.
Building control say that if we have this, we must fit a fire door to the bottom of the downstairs staircase.
Planning are happy with an escape window to the front of the house.
Roof:
We want to consider solar panels on the roof, so should include them in the planning application.
Front aspect:
We want to get rid of the mound that is part of the front, and maximise the car parking space.
