Hartrow Farm Residential Development Nearing Completion

Evan House has now been completed within the development of Hartrow Farm. Located on a split level site Evan House is located on the lower level with outstanding views of the Quantock Hills and the Bristol Channel. The site sits in a beautiful and unspoilt rural location on the edge of the Brendon Hills and Exmoor National Park.


North Petherton, Somerset, Barn Conversion

Work is nearing completion to convert a redundant machinery barn into a 4 bedroom property near North Petherton, Somerset.

Cossington, Somerset, New Build Dwelling

Works were completed near the end of last year on a new build house, designed to be built into the contours of the existing land with internal splits levels. The main living area being located on the lower level and bedroom accommodation on the higher. Externally a grass roof was used to reduce the impact of the new property in its surroundings.

Barn Renovation, North Petherton, Somerset

Works are progressing well on the renovation of an existing barn near North Petherton, Somerset with completion due this month. The new house consists of a large open plan, double height kitchen, lounge and entertaining space with garden room to the garden and 4 double bedrooms with en-suites.

Residential Development, Lydeard St Lawrence

Works have been progressing well on a residential development located rurally within Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset and consisting of 5 new 4 bedroom properties.

Renovation & Extension to Bells Cottage

We were asked by Dave & Helen to obtain planning and building regulations for their renovation and extension of Bells Cottage. Works started late last year and are progressing well and Helen has created an Instagram page where the progress can be followed Bells Cottage (@backatbellscottage) • Instagram photos and videos

Building Regulations Notice of Commencement

The latest legislative changes relating to The Building Safety Act 2022 were to be published at the end of latest month with changes to be made to commencement and completion requirements.

Please see the summary of changes to commencement and completion requirements that may impact your projects. A link to the legislation can be found here - The Building Safety Act: secondary legislation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Notice of Commencement

 

As of 1st October 2023, for applications to be considered as started for the purposes of Regulation 13(5) of The Building Regulations 2010; and Section 32 of The Building Act 1984, the works will need to have progressed to at least one of the following:

 

  1. Progressed to damp proof course level (if foundations are applicable); or

  2. 15% completion of the overall project

 

Under Regulation 16 (3C) it is now a legal requirement that within five days after the work has commenced, the person carrying out work must give notice to the Building Control Body.

 

Please note that this does not change the requirement for a valid Building Control application to be submitted to Building Control prior to any works commencing on site. The above stages are only relevant to Regulation 13(5) of The Building Regulations 2010 and Section 32 of The Building Act 1984.

 

Notice of Completion

 

A Compliance Notice will be required for ALL Projects that are subject to a Building Regulations Application upon 5 days of the completion of works. A template for this notice will be issued and sent to the applicant/agent when the acknowledgement letter is issued. We will not be able to issue a completion certificate until all relevant parties have signed this.

 

The Notice of Completion will require the following information: The name, address, telephone number and (if available) email address of the client, principal contractor, and principal designer.

 

A statement will be required from the applicant to say that the works have been completed and complies with all the applicable regulations to the best of their knowledge.

 

A statement will also be required from both the principal contractor and principal designer (if applicable) to confirm they have fulfilled their duties under Part 2A (duty holders and competence). The duties for this can be found here - The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)

 

August Update

Since our last blog it has been a busy 9 months with a number of projects obtaining planning and us preparing building regulations drawings for these scheme and then getting them on site.

In the past month we have obtained planning consent for 5 new houses in Lydeard St Lawrence. Whilst works have been progressing with speed in Cossington and Oxford.

New Extension & Internal Alterations, The George, Martock

The George, Martock - Planning and Listed Building consent was granted in January this year for a proposed rear extension and external and internal alterations to The George in Martock. Our clients are now progressing on with sourcing funding to ensure the project can be implemented as soon as possible to continue the use of The George.

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Internal & External Alterations, Fivehead, Somerset

Following on from obtaining Listed Building and Planning consent (granted April 2021) covering internal alteration work and new gates at Langford Manor, Fivehead, the new gates are now installed and internal alterations to the kitchen area have been completed.

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November Update

The past 6 months have continued to be busy and we have on-going projects in for planning approval and out to tender.

The issues of phosphates are sadly still an on-going issue to projects caught up within the planning system located within the Somerset Levels and Moors area. SSDC have recently requested a ‘Phosphate Extension of Time Request’ as follows;

‘We are asking for a Extension of Time until 28th February 2022 to allow us to progress work on applications that are acquiring credits and to move the SPD (Supplementary Planning Document) through the process of consultation and adoption. Where applications can be determined prior to that date we will endeavour to do so.’

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April Update

The office is currently very busy with many projects on-going over the last year ranging from planning and listed building consents through to making a start on site. A project has recently started on site near Woking for a replacement dwelling, footings are well underway. An extension to a house in Taunton has recently been completed after the contractor continued to work through all of last year. Similarly, a house extension was completed in Henley at the end of last year (please see photos below).

We have also recently obtained planning and listed building consent for an extension to a curtilage grade II barn in Curry Rivel and some new entrance gates, barn alterations and internal alteration to a Grade II* Manor House in Fivehead.

A third and final dwelling is also about to commence on a site in Martinstown, Dorset, completing the development.

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Rear Extension & Internal Alterations, Taunton

Works are progressing well on a project in Taunton, currently on site to replace an existing uninsulated extension to the main house with a new bespoke single storey extension. The works also comprise of internal alterations to create a central circulation space with new entrance hall, Kitchen, Dining Room, Family Space, Utility Area and 4th Bedroom with En-suite.

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