2007 Where Has It Gone?
Well who would have believed that it would take an entire year to break ground! This page documents the pain we have had just trying to get on-site!29 January 2007
Planning application made for two contemporary houses on the sites.
21 June 2007
Planning application approved with absolutely no changes at all! Why did it take so long?
21 July 2007
Website up and running...
The building plot ! Where our future home will be...currently a field. The hedge at the top left is at road level within the village. Tree-line bottom right is where the little burn is......Also includes the view we will have when the house is complete and I am standing in either the living room, the kitchen or the dining room .... A typical Scottish summers day...low cloud but at least no rain when I took the picture on what must be the wettest summer in history ! Glad we haven't started the build yet!
28 July 2007
Our intrepid heroes make a start..... lets see how long the smiles last :o)
The first milestone........We employ a few celebrities to officially open access to the site. Crazy Frog (me) and Stevie Wonder (Ian) lookalikes, cut through the beech hedge ! This gives access to the site for the structural engineers visit on Monday 30th July.
Our intrepid heroes make a start..... lets see how long the smiles last :o)
The first milestone........We employ a few celebrities to officially open access to the site. Crazy Frog (me) and Stevie Wonder (Ian) lookalikes, cut through the beech hedge ! This gives access to the site for the structural engineers visit on Monday 30th July.
30 July 2007
Man in digger .... digs big holes - then fills them in again ! Ground is perfect for stepped foundations - at last some good news!!! The design is intended to use the slope rather than cut into it.
03 August 2007
No action on the site this week, but lots happening behind the scenes.... as things start to come together, its time to agree the window schedule (design) with the architect, discussions on timber cladding for the external finish. For me this part is vital its all about the finished look of the building, trying to turn a pencil sketch on a bit of paper into a real building without compromising on the design. MHR VS system investigations are taking place ( see technical information).
20 August 2007
Time to gather prices! Structural Engineers plans are back and we are in for a staged building warrant to get us on site as quick as possible. So seeking prices now for foundations and blockwork, windows and a suitable roofing system. Its getting close to decision time ! Where do we spend our money?
09 September 07
A few weeks ago aliens arrived in Scotland! Although we were zapped by the men in black and remember nothing about it, a passer by gave me these photos.... We have to move an 11,000 volt transformer to an alternative location as it is too close to my house for building and is a safety risk.....guess what though, we have to pay for the priviledge.. An unexpected BIG BIG spend.
And a picture of the offending item ! We have agreed the costs and a new location for it. Cheque is sent off to pay for it...ouch ! Should be moved in six to eight weeks.
17 September 2007
Another week goes by and we are sitting on our hands awaiting the staged warrant. Its now three weeks since that went in. Its not been considered yet as we have just found out that its been delayed because Perth and Kinross Council sent the drawings to the wrong office! In the meantime we continue to gather prices for everything we can. We are working on the roof just now, gathering prices. We are looking for a metal roof that's within our budget! Next week sees us reach the first anniversary of agreeing to buy the land. Fast approaching one year in and not even a hole in the ground :o(
23 September 2007
Been to visit another contemporary build in the next village. Whilst it helps keep the enthusiasm going for our project...its taken them 5 years to build !!!! They move into their new home in two weeks time. We have a builder lined up, a roofing material finalised and are hoping to start in a weeks time if only we can get P&KDC to stamp these drawings.......
05 October 2007
Got a date for our transformer move ! At long last some good news ...Jimmy and Ian decided to crack open a wee bottle of red to celebrate! 16th to 20th November is when its all due to happen. The day our village is shutdown without power! That should make us really popular! Its getting near the time for us to hit the site and get the foundations done...
19 October 2007
More red tape. Since planning was approved there has been a change to the building regs -May 07. We are required to make adjustments to our plan caused by changes to the building regs regarding disabled access. So discussions begin on what we need to do to comply. Communications go back and forward but yes you've guessed it -progress is slow. As time ticks by the frustration grows, the chances of being on site before Christmas becomes more and more unlikely. Whatever happens we will be having Christmas dinner on site! It'll make an interesting photo!
26 October 2007
Nothing surprises us anymore.... Water and sewage connections granted! But its not that simple...Scottish Water must do the road dig for the water connection on the insistence of the council. Costs are high! However, we can organise our own contractor for the sewer connection. We must use Scottish Water for the water connection as they have to guarantee the road repair...but not for sewage. Is there a difference in the quality of repair after making a hole in the road, between the two???? Some of the rules we are coming up against are no longer causing surprise, its all absolute madness !!!
05 November 2007
In the words of The Ramones .........Hey Ho -Lets Go!!!
In the last week we have had some good news....a rare event for us !
Meeting on-site with the builder yesterday. Another cut in the hedge to be made to facilitate access to the site. The access road goes in this coming week and the site is about to be cleared! At last it will look like a building site rather than a field. Also had a meeting with SSE and the transformer move remains on schedule for 16th,19th,20th of this month. My, how popular we will be when half the village loses power for the day on the 20th November!
The foundation work starts immediately after.... at long last things look like they are about to happen ...maybe a wee smile is on its way.
09 November 2007
The Site Is OPEN! - a new hole in the hedge and 50 tonnes of type one for a site access roadway. All built by my fair hand as you can see! King For A Day!
Man in digger .... digs big holes - then fills them in again ! Ground is perfect for stepped foundations - at last some good news!!! The design is intended to use the slope rather than cut into it.
03 August 2007
No action on the site this week, but lots happening behind the scenes.... as things start to come together, its time to agree the window schedule (design) with the architect, discussions on timber cladding for the external finish. For me this part is vital its all about the finished look of the building, trying to turn a pencil sketch on a bit of paper into a real building without compromising on the design. MHR VS system investigations are taking place ( see technical information).
20 August 2007
Time to gather prices! Structural Engineers plans are back and we are in for a staged building warrant to get us on site as quick as possible. So seeking prices now for foundations and blockwork, windows and a suitable roofing system. Its getting close to decision time ! Where do we spend our money?
09 September 07
A few weeks ago aliens arrived in Scotland! Although we were zapped by the men in black and remember nothing about it, a passer by gave me these photos.... We have to move an 11,000 volt transformer to an alternative location as it is too close to my house for building and is a safety risk.....guess what though, we have to pay for the priviledge.. An unexpected BIG BIG spend.
And a picture of the offending item ! We have agreed the costs and a new location for it. Cheque is sent off to pay for it...ouch ! Should be moved in six to eight weeks.
17 September 2007
Another week goes by and we are sitting on our hands awaiting the staged warrant. Its now three weeks since that went in. Its not been considered yet as we have just found out that its been delayed because Perth and Kinross Council sent the drawings to the wrong office! In the meantime we continue to gather prices for everything we can. We are working on the roof just now, gathering prices. We are looking for a metal roof that's within our budget! Next week sees us reach the first anniversary of agreeing to buy the land. Fast approaching one year in and not even a hole in the ground :o(
23 September 2007
Been to visit another contemporary build in the next village. Whilst it helps keep the enthusiasm going for our project...its taken them 5 years to build !!!! They move into their new home in two weeks time. We have a builder lined up, a roofing material finalised and are hoping to start in a weeks time if only we can get P&KDC to stamp these drawings.......
05 October 2007
Got a date for our transformer move ! At long last some good news ...Jimmy and Ian decided to crack open a wee bottle of red to celebrate! 16th to 20th November is when its all due to happen. The day our village is shutdown without power! That should make us really popular! Its getting near the time for us to hit the site and get the foundations done...
19 October 2007
More red tape. Since planning was approved there has been a change to the building regs -May 07. We are required to make adjustments to our plan caused by changes to the building regs regarding disabled access. So discussions begin on what we need to do to comply. Communications go back and forward but yes you've guessed it -progress is slow. As time ticks by the frustration grows, the chances of being on site before Christmas becomes more and more unlikely. Whatever happens we will be having Christmas dinner on site! It'll make an interesting photo!
26 October 2007
Nothing surprises us anymore.... Water and sewage connections granted! But its not that simple...Scottish Water must do the road dig for the water connection on the insistence of the council. Costs are high! However, we can organise our own contractor for the sewer connection. We must use Scottish Water for the water connection as they have to guarantee the road repair...but not for sewage. Is there a difference in the quality of repair after making a hole in the road, between the two???? Some of the rules we are coming up against are no longer causing surprise, its all absolute madness !!!
05 November 2007
In the words of The Ramones .........Hey Ho -Lets Go!!!
In the last week we have had some good news....a rare event for us !
Meeting on-site with the builder yesterday. Another cut in the hedge to be made to facilitate access to the site. The access road goes in this coming week and the site is about to be cleared! At last it will look like a building site rather than a field. Also had a meeting with SSE and the transformer move remains on schedule for 16th,19th,20th of this month. My, how popular we will be when half the village loses power for the day on the 20th November!
The foundation work starts immediately after.... at long last things look like they are about to happen ...maybe a wee smile is on its way.
09 November 2007
The Site Is OPEN! - a new hole in the hedge and 50 tonnes of type one for a site access roadway. All built by my fair hand as you can see! King For A Day!