Project Detail

 

I am proposing to break the overall development project down into a number of manageable chunks.

 

I have yet to apply for planning permission but have had informal discussions which have discussed the issues, which apply to any development in terms of access, amenity value, etc. None of the issues seem insurmountable.

 

As the site is currently full of many different things which reflect my progress to date it is going to be necessary to rationalise this. This is, of course, code for saying that the garden bears a passing resemblance to the yard of the Steptoes (and we are not talking the Royal gynaecological variety). I need to rationalise and do an inventory of the materials, photographing and describing them, to enable consideration of how, or indeed, whether, they can be used.

 

The next step is to plan and design the workshop/garage for which I intend to use much of the rubble lying around the site for foundations, using reclaimed timber to support a plywood roof, which will then support a living/grass roof.  We are currently creating a large quantity of compost which will become part of the soil for the grass roof. There is a great circularity about eating your breakfast grapefruit and knowing that it will rot down to help create a habitat for wildlife and ultimately provide a covering for the roof. The walls will be lime-rendered straw-bales. This should not only clear the decks but also provide storage for the things which need to be kept dry, not least the Morris Minor Traveller and VW Transporter.

 

Having a building which can be used as a site workshop come office will mean that we are able to get away from the site at the end of the day and relax, ready to start afresh the next day. The bane of many self-builders is having to live on site in a caravan; we are fortunate in having an ordinary 3-bed terrace to go back to at the end of the day.

 

The build of the new house can proceed on the back of the above.

 

The intention is to hire/ buy a JCB/ digger (research needed here) and dig out for a basement. I am researching the possibility of having a no concrete build but see the basement as being the area where this might be most likely not to be achievable. Ideas welcome. The topsoil will be put aside whilst the clay, which you hit in earnest after about 500mm will be the basis for rammed earth walls. It is important that we stick to the basic concept that skips are to take things out of, rather than to put things into. Trenches will need to be dug for services and the ground-source heat pump, which research has led me to believe, is the favourite method to heat and provide hot water. I have considerable numbers of bricks which will be used to provide foundation courses for the earth walls and to build a fireplace and chimney for a wood-boiler and as passive-stack ventilation. The roof again will be a living one, supported ply with membrane and soil/ turf or sedum.

 

Drawing to the end of the new build will be the time to take stock of the materials and plant situation in preparation for the refurbishment of the 20’s 3-bed terrace to make it as eco-friendly as possible. This is perhaps the trickiest part of the project, but also the most relevant when considering the majority of the properties throughout the UK.

      

The last part of the project is to establish fruit and vegetable growing whilst trying to ensure that the fruits of our labours are not harvested by the squirrels or pigeons.

 

We will probably be having a topping out party at the end of each stage, and probably, during.