Looking Good....

Eastern Concrete headquarters in Stowmarket is finished. The balustrading to the balcony has been carried out leaving only a few landscaping matters to complete.

Chalets and Log Cabins on your land...

PLANNING PERMISSION RULES

In many instances (subject to size and design) planning permission is NOT required to build a garden office, chalet, log cabin etc. if the garden building is for a domestic or leisure purpose. This may include Crafts, Hobbies, Summer Houses, Swimming Pool Covers, Saunas - Spa Pools, Gymnasiums, Pets, Playrooms, Personal study, Storage, Garages.

It is likely that planning permission will be required to build any other type of garden building or if you intend to use it for commercial purposes.

If in doubt contact your local planning office for advice. They will probably ask the following questions:-

• What is the chalet/log cabin/garden room going to be used for?
• Where is the chalet/log cabin/garden office going to be located?
• Is your site a registered AONB (Area of Outstanding natural Beauty)?
• Is your property a listed building?
• How big is the chalet/log cabin/garden office?
• How is the building constructed and what does it look like?

There are many suppliers of log cabins and other timber buildings who claim that because the building is made of wood and is less that 30 sq. meters, planning permission is not required. THIS IS NOT TRUE!

You should ensure that you have obtained the correct information regarding planning permission before installing your log cabin/ chalet / sauna / garden office. Your local planning office will have leaflets and booklets to advise you and they are free of charge.

Do I need Planning Permission for Log Cabins and Garden Offices?

GENERALLY

You are exempt from needing planning permission for your log cabin if you can satisfy the following criteria:-

• It is to be sited in the garden of a detached or semi-detached property.
• The property is not in an area of conservation or outstanding natural beauty or similar category.
• The property is not a listed building.
• The cabin will not be between the house and a highway (or if it is there shall be a 20m distance from the highway).
• The cabin will not be above 4m in height.
• Total area covered by buildings will not exceed half of the garden.
• The cabin is not to be used commercially (home office is usually acceptable if it does not detract from the main use of the property).
• The cabin is not to be used as a dwelling.
• There are no other covenants that prevent you from exercising your permitted developments rights.

Garden structures may include swimming pools, animal shelters, tennis courts and so on. The size of the garden structure does not appear to be relevant to planning exemption but it does have an influence on whether or not building regulations approval is necessary and/or the cabins position relative to boundaries.

The permitted development rules shown apply to houses. Flats, maisonettes or other buildings are not included. You should also check with your Local Planning Authority if permitted development rights apply as they may have been removed.

Permitted development rights may also have been restricted if your house is listed or in a designated area. Again check with your Local Planning Authority in these circumstances.

PLANNING PORTAL

Under current regulations outbuildings are considered to be permitted development, not needing planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions. Rules governing outbuildings apply to sheds, greenhouses and garages as well as other ancillary garden buildings such as swimming pools, ponds, sauna cabins, kennels, enclosures (including tennis courts) and many other kinds of structure for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling house.

• No outbuilding forward of the principal elevation fronting a highway.
• Outbuildings and garages to be single storey with maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of four metres with a dual pitched roof or three metres for any other roof.
• Maximum height 2.5 metres within two metres of a boundary.
• No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
• No more than half the area of land around the "original house"* would be covered by additions or other buildings.
• In National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites the maximum area to be covered by buildings, enclosures, containers and pools more than 20 metres from house to be limited to 10 square metres.
• On designated land buildings, enclosures, containers and pools at the side of properties will require planning permission.
• Within the curtilage of listed buildings any outbuilding will require planning permission.

The term "original house" means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.

Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.

A Smart Multi-Colored Light Bulb That You Can Control With Your Phone...

Design company LIFX Labs has created a smart multi-colored LED light bulb that can be controlled with your smartphone. LIFX has already surpassed its $100,000 goal for backing, taking in over three times that much with nearly two months left for fundraising. It also brings a wide variety of functionality to something most people consider mundane but necessary: a light bulb.

Called ‘LIFX’, owners can use their Apple or Android smart phones to control their lights from anywhere; choose the brightness for a specific bulb, a room or the entire house; and even change the colors to match their mood or décor.

Because it is connected to your phone, the lights will even be able alert you of notifications from Twitter, Facebook and text messages.

The light bulb is also energy efficient—it uses approximately 1/10th the energy of the standard household bulb and can last up to 25 years.

“LIFX answers a need that is well and truly overdue. Everyone in the world needs light bulbs. Existing light bulbs are based on an archaic technology that threatens our environment,” LIFX inventor Phil Bosua wrote.

“Light bulbs consume approximately 20% of electricity in homes around the world. They need to be more efficient, smarter and last longer. In the twenty-first century, people need lighting that matches the “smart culture” and eco aware sensibilities of our day.”

[Credit: DesignTaxi.com]

Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2013...

Colours to look out for, after all, fashion trends tend to be reflected in the home too.

IKEA Unveils Its Catalog Of The Future...

IKEA has revealed its adoption of mobile augmented-reality and interactive technology, as a new approach for its future catalogs. 

Users have to download the new IKEA Catalog App (which would be available from 31 July) for their smartphone or tablet, and scan select pages of the 2013 catalog to unlock films, interactive experiences, photo galleries and other home-furnishing inspiration.


 (click on the picture)

Bld. Regs. - greenhouses, sheds, garages, carports...

Small detached single storey domestic buildings including greenhouses, sheds, garages and attached carports meeting the following conditions do not require Building Regulation approval:

1. Detached garages or structures with an internal floor area not exceeding 15 m² and built of any type of construction that does not affect disabled access and contains no electrical supply (see notes below**) are wholly exempt from Building Regulation approval.

2. Detached garages or structures with an internal floor area not exceeding 30 m², built of any type of construction and sited so as to be a minimum of 1metre from any boundary line, that does not affect disabled access and contains no electrical supply (see notes below**) are wholly exempt from Building Regulation approval.

3. Detached garages with an internal floor area not exceeding 30 m² and built of substantially non-combustible materials*, that does not affect disabled access and contains no electrical supply (see notes below**) are wholly exempt from Building Regulation approval.

*Examples of what constitutes substantially non-combustible materials*:

ROOF - non-combustible cement based sheeting fixed to steel roof trusses / tiled or slated roof on timber roof trusses or timbers / timber flat roof covered with felt with applied bitumen bedded 12.5mm limestone chippings.

WALLS – brickwork / blockwork / concrete panels / steel frame clad in non-combustible cement based boarding.

FLOORS – concrete slab.

4. Carports open at least two sides attached or detached from the main building, with an internal floor area not exceeding 30 m² that does not affect disabled access and contains no electrical supply (see notes below**) are wholly exempt from Building Regulation approval.

NOTES:

Disabled access.

It is a ‘Material Alteration’ requiring the submission of a Building Regulation application, if the works you are undertaking make access to or access into the dwelling any worse than it is now. So the proposal must not obstruct access pathways up to the main dwelling entrance doors.

Electrical regulations.

If the small-detached building is to have electricity supplied from a source shared with or located within the dwelling, then the Building Regulations apply to the electrical works. You will be required to submit a Building Regulation application. (Refer to Guide Note 20 for full details of the requirements).

If electrical circuits are to be provided or adapted to provide light or power to your attached carports, then the Building Regulations may apply (Refer to Guide Note 20 for full details of the requirements).

Water efficiency regulations.

If you intend to provide a cold and / or a hot water supply to any greenhouse or small detached building covered by this guide and the supply is from a source shared with or located with or located inside a dwelling, then the Building Regulations requirements of Part G - paragraphs G1 (cold water supply), G3(2) and G3(3) (hot water supply and systems) must be complied with. As a result you will be required to submit a Building Regulation application providing full details of compliance. (Refer to Guide Note 25 for full details of the requirements).

Thermal regulations.

If you intend to provide heating and lighting or install ‘Controlled services or fittings’ into the building, you will be required to make a building regulation for those works refer to guide 24 (2).

Planning Approval

You are reminded that Building Regulations Approval does not imply approval under the Town and Planning Act – you should check whether or not a Planning Application is required.

Drainage and your proposal

IMPORTANT NOTE - SHARED DRAINAGE RUNS AND UNITED UTILITIES OWNERSHIPS.

Where you encounter any drainage or drainage is likely to be affected by your proposal, from the 1^st October 2011 United Utilities now have ownership / maintenance responsibilities of all private land shared drainage systems which connect to their sewerage systems and therefore require access / drainage protection provisions and in some cases formal ‘Building Over Sewers Agreements’ in place to allow the your work to commence. This applies where the works are to be undertaken over or within 3m of the shared pipework.

Prior to the excavations commencement it is advised your contractor determines the exact positions of all drainage runs / pipe sizes / pipe depths and positions of all existing access points and inspection chamber on site and to either side of the proposals site that will run under or are within 3m of the proposals. Where shared drainage between adjacent properties is likely to be encountered you are advised to contact United Utilities Asset Protection Team to determine their requirements and seek their formal agreement to allowing you to build our there drainage.

Connections

Any new drainage connection must be made to the appropriate drain (foul to foul / surface water to surface water) and within the site boundaries of the property. United utilities connection consent will be required if connections are made to neighbouring properties drainage systems. 

The Swedish House...

Reminiscent of times gone past maybe, but in a good way. I do however, feel that this may age badly and look outdated in a short period of time if proper care and maintenance of it and it's surroundings are not met. 

1000 'Princes Houses' ...

If all goes according to plan, the first eco-friendly 'Prince's Houses' will be built in the UK in 2013. 

The 'Princes House' or Natural House prototype at BRE Watford. 

Ikea’s Strand East village submitted for planning...

Strand East, set to be built south of the Olympic Park in Stratford, will feature 1,200 homes, 480,000 square feet of commercial office space, a "hub area" with shared space for the community, a creative zone intended for creative-minded businesses to take root, a restaurant, a hotel, pedestrian walkways, cycle routes, and a new bus route. 

Strand East will also be free of vehicle traffic--upon entering the development, drivers will head straight to an underground garage. Vehicles will be allowed inside, of course (especially buses, delivery vans, and emergency vehicles), but their presence will be minimized.

LandProp  (the development arm of the Inter Ikea Group, which owns Ikea’s intellectual property) expects to start construction in 2013.

Orchard View Barn...

In 2010 R Taylor Design Associates were appointed to completely renovate and convert a detached Grade II listed 16th-century barn in Plymtree, Devon on a 300-acre sheep/arable and beef farm (Blog post, dated Tuesday, 16 February 2010). Once a milking parlour, cattle stalls and roundhouse, the building is now established as a holiday let.

Commercial Refurbishment, Hatfield...

Drawings and images prepared for the refurbishment of an estate agency in Hatfield. The scheme looks at the integration of new floor finishes, property display panels, lighting and furniture.

PANTONE 2012 Color of The Year...

New requirement for payment under Habitat Regulations...

With effect from 1 November 2011 any new residential or tourist accommodation will have to provide mitigation for recreational impacts on protected European Wildlife Sites.  This affects areas within 10km of the Exe Estuary and Dawlish Warren. 


for more information, please refer to http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15162

New legislation...

The General Permitted Development Order and the Advert Regulations have been amended with a start date of 1 October 2011 for electric vehicle charging points and 1 December 2011 for micro-generation updates:

Amendment of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995


2.—(1) The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995(1) is amended as follows.
(2) In Part 2 of Schedule 2 (minor operations), after Class C insert—

“Class D
Permitted development

D. The installation, alteration or replacement, within an area lawfully used for off-street parking, of an electrical outlet mounted on a wall for recharging electric vehicles.
Development not permitted

D.1 Development is not permitted by Class D if the outlet and its casing would—

(a) exceed 0.2 cubic metres;

(b) face onto and be within two metres of a highway;

(c) be within a site designated as a scheduled monument; or

(d) be within the curtilage of a listed building.

Conditions

D.2 Development is permitted by Class D subject to the conditions that when no longer needed as a charging point for electric vehicles—

(a)the development shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable; and
(b)the wall on which the development was mounted or into which the development was set shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, and so far as reasonably practicable, be reinstated to its condition before that development was carried out.

Class E
Permitted development

E. The installation, alteration or replacement, within an area lawfully used for off-street parking, of an upstand with an electrical outlet mounted on it for recharging electric vehicles.

Development not permitted

E.1 Development is not permitted by Class E if the upstand and the outlet would—

(a) exceed 1.6 metres in height from the level of the surface used for the parking of vehicles;
(b) be within two metres of a highway;
(c) be within a site designated as a scheduled monument;
(d) be within the curtilage of a listed building; or
(e) result in more than one upstand being provided for each parking space.

Conditions

E.2 Development is permitted by Class E subject to the conditions that when the development is no longer needed as a charging point for electric vehicles—

(a) the development shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable; and

(b) the land on which the development was mounted or into which the development was set shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, and so far as reasonably practicable, be reinstated to its condition before that development was carried out.”.

(3) In Part 12 of Schedule 2 (development by local authorities), for Class A substitute—

“Class A
Permitted development

A The erection or construction and the maintenance, improvement or other alteration by a local authority or by an urban development corporation of—

(a)any small ancillary building, works or equipment on land belonging to or maintained by them required for the purposes of any function exercised by them on that land otherwise than as statutory undertakers;
(b)lamp standards, information kiosks, passenger shelters, public shelters and seats, telephone boxes, fire alarms, public drinking fountains, horse troughs, refuse bins or baskets, barriers for the control of people waiting to enter public service vehicles, electric vehicle charging points and any associated infrastructure, and similar structures or works required in connection with the operation of any public service administered by them.


Interpretation of Class A

A.1 For the purposes of Class A “urban development corporation” has the same meaning as in Part 16 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980(2) (urban development).

A.2 The reference in Class A to any small ancillary building, works or equipment is a reference to any ancillary building, works or equipment not exceeding 4 metres in height or 200 cubic metres in capacity.”.

(4) For Part 40 of Schedule 2 (installation of domestic microgeneration equipment) substitute Part 40 as set out in the Schedule to this Order.

Planning committees and the call-in process...

Planning applications are determined either by Planning Committees or by officers under powers delegated to them by the council's constitution. Most applications are determined under these delegated powers. The Planning Committees usually only make decisions on planning applications for major developments, those proposals that raise significant public concern, or those 'called in' by a District Councillor.


The call-in process
District Councillors may "call in" applications they feel should go to Committee. If you have serious concerns about an application, you may wish to contact your local councillor about this as soon as you are notified of the application. Call-ins need to submitted at the earliest opportunity, this is in order that the Planning Department has the time to schedule in the application for a committee meeting so that a decision can be made within the statutory eight-week timescale that the department has to determine planning applications.


Call-in forms will state why the application has been called in and whether the application is to be called in if officers are minded to grant or minded to refuse an application. Call-in forms are published on the website along with the plans and other supporting documents.


Once officers have made their assessment of the application, they will then make their recommendation as to whether or not the application should be granted. Whether or not the application goes to Committee will usually depend on both this recommendation and the call-in. For example, if the recommendation is going to be to grant permission and there exists a call-in from a councillor to Committee if the recommendation is to grant, then that application will go to Committee. It is therefore normally only when officers have fully assessed an application and made their recommendation, that we know if an application needs to be heard at Committee. There are cases where there are call-ins from two councillors, one if the recommendation is grant and another if the recommendation is refuse, and these applications will go to Committee.

Coles Farm (formerly Manor)...

Work continues on the Manor House with the construction of the Utility, shower room and Gym as well as the second fix to the main house. The Thatcher is due in two weeks time to roof over the former outbuildings which will transform the image of the dwelling considerably. The new custodians of this historic property are to change the name to Coles Farm (or Colses Farm) which for some locally may appear strange, though this was the original name for the farm in the 18th Century, only having changed to the Manor House at the turn of the 20th Century. This is a more fitting name for the property and a nice touch by the new owners.

Localism and the National Planning Policy Framework: implications for local government...

Taken from the Planning Advisory Service website (www.pas.gov.uk):

The Government is making some significant changes to the planning system that will affect the responsibilities of all local planning authorities. The intention is to make the planning system one that better supports sustainable economic growth and jobs, underpinned with the principles of localism, with less ‘top-down’ prescription and more ‘bottom up’ involvement.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will set out the Government’s priorities for planning in England. It will replace the current raft of planning policy guidance notes and statements with one document of less than 60 pages. The final version will be published around the end of 2011 or early 2012.

The regional tier of planning is to be abolished, including Regional Spatial Strategies and their associated housing targets. This will give you more freedom and flexibility to work with your neighbours and other bodies (as covered by the ‘duty to co-operate’) to do the strategic planning for your area.

Your authority will need to have a plan in place to guide development to the right place, and against which to make planning decisions. Without an up-to-date local plan, development decisions will be made on the basis of national policy, with the presumption being ‘yes’. Some predict an increase in ‘planning by appeal’ where there is no up-todate local plan.

Neighbourhoods and parishes will increasingly be able to take on planning in their areas. You will need to work with them – managing their expectations and helping them to understand what they can and can’t do.

This document aims to give chief executives a brief overview of the significant changes to the planning system and the implications of the changes.

Art Deco Exhibitions...

Major new exhibitions on Art Deco architecture:

Puttin' on the Glitz:The Golden Years of Art Deco Architecture in Britain

01 October 2011 - 26 November 2011

Monday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm (Tuesday 10am - 10pm)

Venue:

Gallery 2, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD

Art Deco Triumphant: TheExposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Paris1925

01 October 2011 - 26 November 2011
Tuesday 10am - 8pm Wednesday and Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 1.30pm

Closed Monday, Thursday and Sunday

Venue:

British Architectural Library, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD

Dunkeswell...

Design for a new 2-bed single storey dwelling in Dunkeswell, Devon, prepared and ready for a planning submission. The building sits high on the site, but this has been made necessary by the foul water drainage from the existing bungalow that is to pass under the new dwelling, being at a depth of only 120mm.

RIBA Stirling Prize 2011...and the winner is...

Congratulations to Zaha Hadid Architects.


The Evelyn Grace Academy, a cutting-edge new secondary school in Brixton, south London by Zaha Hadid Architects has won the prestigious £20,000 RIBA Stirling Prize 2011 for the best new European building built or designed in the United Kingdom.