Mr Jones, Bristol
"I'd always dreamed of building my own house, and I was very lucky to get the chance to be involved with a community self-build project, which involved 20 plots.
The project was developed as a response to a planning application put forward for the site by a commercial developer. We weren't happy with the housing they were proposing, so the local community formed an action group to oppose the planning application. The group all lived locally, and we were well placed regarding planning issues.
A successful campaign saw the developer's application rejected. This was helped considerably by knowing how the planning process works - how to object, how to gain access to the planning officer's report and our right to address the council planning sub-committee in person. In fact, the planning officer's report was used as the basis for the main objections the community group made.
Planning permission
The action group asked the community what they would like to see on the site and, using the feedback, created a design and submitted a planning application.
Designs for the houses, drawn up by a local designer, were approved, despite an eclectic range of styles.
The group negotiated with the site owner, and using a community-friendly commercial solicitor tied the owners into a deal whereby they would sell to the community as long as their planning application was approved, and the finances were raised within a month - which is exactly what happened.
The final approval was for a mixed-use development, sold on immediately to private individuals who were involved in the scheme almost from the start; a terrace of six plots sold to a housing association; and an office block was retained for workshop space.
Subsequently nearly all the plots changed their designs and so were resubmitted for planning approval. Most of these went through as minor amendments, with no additional fees. All were decided by the officer on delegated powers, and he scrupulously asked for comments from neighbours about all the changes requested, no matter how minor.
The planning consent we were originally granted for the site came with a whole host of conditions. It took us about 18 months to get agreement with the officer about how we were going to meet them."
Building regulations
"I used the services of a friend who works as a builder and is also a qualified architect to put together my building regulations application. I knew that building regulations approval must be obtained to carry out any building work, and that this can be obtained from the local authority, or from a private organisation such as the NHBC.
Building regulations are not always easy to interpret, especially from the written page or diagram, and are open to differing interpretations by different officers. When meeting with the building inspector I found it useful to draw on their experience to my own advantage.
Another thing worth bearing in mind is that a structural engineer has to approve any construction submitted for building regulations."
What I would have done differently: "Architects do not always come up with a buildable solution. If at all possible try to think through, in great detail, how you are going to build what has been planned. It doesn't always work, either practically or aesthetically.
Plan more thoroughly, pay more attention to final design details, and last but not least, install better soundproofing between floors."
Top Tips
- “Expect to spend at least a year sorting out the paperwork before you can start building your dream home.”
- “Homebuilders must now provide a Standard Assessment Procedure rating before work starts. The SAP is the Government's recommended system for home energy rating. The SAP energy cost rating is based on energy costs for space and water heating only.”
Disclaimer: this is an introductory guide and is not a definitive source of legal information. Read the full disclaimer here.
