Planning due

The 8 week deadline (target detmination date according to the planners), for a planning decision came and went the message back from the planners is that the plans are okay except for the issue of th ash tree which they are looking into it.  

Ash tree problem

The response from the tree officer appears online objecting to the application. The main issue is with the request to take down the Ash tree because it is rotting. Unfortunately the arboricultural report we had obtained had not been included in the application while we were in Greece so he did not have the evidence for removal.

We submitted the evidence and provided answers to his other queries but unfortunately the officer the was on sick leave and noone else could override his comments.

Application validated

Arrived back from Greece and the application had not been validated and bat survey not arranged. After much chasing we arranged the survey and got an email confirming no bats so the application was finally validated and the clock could start ticking with expected end date October 14th.  

Bat problems

Checked on stafford planning site and still no sign of applications showing. Emailed Aaron to check on reason, apparently the system has chnaged and the application is not logged until all reports are available. As the bungalow is close to the river a bat survay is required beofre the application is validated. As we had already received a quote asked Aaron to arrange it.

Planning permission submitted

About to fly out to Greece for three weeks so plans submitted so three weeks of waiting would pass by easily while in saling around, a good idea.

Our first model

One wet Sunday afternoon and the temptation was too much. Aaron had taken his model and although we had received more paper plans we did not have anything physical to look at. So with the help of Uhu, cardboard and a stanley knife I spent the afternoon making a new model.

This madel had a detachable roof so we could look at the space and more importantly we had a selection of detachable roofs to try out different ideas on the rigth hand back bedroom. We also had detachable wall sections to consider the window arrangement for the kitchen side.


We used the model for our pre planning meeting with Aaron to explain the shape of the building which was very helpful. In fact Aaron took it with him for the meeting he had in the Autumn with the planners.

The whacky roof is born

Within our original designs we were going to have the three kids bedrooms on the one side of the house, this would mean one of them being in the middle of the row without a good view. Robert suggested having a mezzanine and high window like we have in Porthmadog and we mentioned this in passing to Aaron during our first meeting to discuss designs.

When Aaron came back with his first design ideas most of them were as we had described, but then he bought out his model. His idea was for a stealth house which looked like a couple of small houses from Stafford Road and Ford Close with the two blocks and a double pitch.

All the bedrooms would have a high window to let in more light throughout the day. During the initial brief stage Aaron had also lent us a book of inspriational properties and one in particular we had both loved.

Yes I know completely prententious and anachievable, we do not have the sun, space or budget for anything like this. But the purpose of the exercise was for us to describe to Aaron what inspired us and leave him to do the design.

Richard and I we really excited with his ideas, it added the design flare to our practical ideas and overcame the problems of the bare flank walls on the Ford Close side. This was exactly the reason we had chosen Aaron as the architect. The kids were not that impressed but then we had looked at the model not the photos, the photos do not capture it.

Initial Design Ideas

Lego is wonderful stuff. We started by just having basic room shapes for the rooms we wanted and then putting them together in different ways to consider all sorts of ideas.  We knew from our initial planning discussions that there were tight rules on distances from neighbours windows that needed to be met. This meant the obvious position for the house part way down the plot would not work. We needed to be either on the existing foot print or a long way down.

Some fairly weird and wacky shapes were considered but we kept coming back to an H or A house. Two main blocks opening out at the back of the plot with a joining atrium with lots of glass. We curently have a hall, dining room and conservatory all of which are not used as much as we would like, particularly the conservatory is hardly used except for the summer. The idea was to combine them into one big space that could be used all year round.

The other issue is the sun light, cuurently we have the afternoon and evening sun on the back of the house and garden, 78 Stafford Road is the other way round so we did not know how it would work.

So we built a lego model to scale and put it outside in the sun and photographed it during the day, I think this was one of the earlier times the children told us we were odd/sad.

Family house or retirement home

Once the offer had been accepted the next big question is what to build and who would be the architect. By the time we went to Porthmadog on the Friday two architects had been to visit us and the plot and we had one initial meeting with the planner. It does seem incredible in retrospect that we had agreed a purchase price before we had even met the planners.

The dilemma on what to build. A four bedroom family house, but Helen is already at university and Robert will be following soon. So do we need 4 bedrooms, we are getting older and this is a long term house so shoudl be build something smaller.

As always it is family first and yes it is teh family home for everyone, the longer term will be in the design to ensure it is still suitable for just the two of us later.

So we went to Porthmadog to breath again and think.

The Plot

The bungalow was built in the 1930's in the middle of fields opposite the large Walton Grange house. Since then Cherry Fields estate was built in the 1970's and Walton Grange Flats in the 1980's squeezing the bungalow from all sides. The plot is surprisngly large going nearly down to the river but it is very narrow at the top so many people do not even realise it is there.

The view from Stafford Road   Down the back garden to the river	The front garden
	Back up the garden to the bungalow and flats

To build or not to build ?

Should we or shouldn't we what a dilemma. Lots of debate worrying about the money, the amount of work and stress and family upheaval. Surprisingly the main supporters were Helen and Robert who reminded us we had always wanted to build our own house and we would never find such a good plot within walking distance of town. Emma was not so keen, feeling guilty about leaving number 57.

So we put in an offer on the basis of a self build or develop but it was immediately rejected. Then worse on Monday morning we were told there was someone else bidding and we would have to do best and final sealed bids by midday on Tuesday. 

Tuesday just after the deadline waiting for the estate agents will stay in my memory for a long time. We had got it, what a weird feeling, Richard went straight upstairs to phone his parents. I was acutely aware of the loss, but phoned Ian and tried to speak to Duncan before walking round to the bungalow to have a quick panic, certainly not the last of those.

For Sales Board

On a Tuesday 5th April 2011 I was taking Jack back home after badminton when I saw the 'For Sale' board outside 78 Stafford Road.  We had for years been aware of the plot and thought it would make a great building plot, now was our chance to have a look.

We had dinner, dropped Emma off at guides and went round to look. We had been right a large plot nearly to the river but were surprised by how overlooked it felt.

When Emma got back from Guides she had a fit having told all her friends about her cruel parents dragging her away from her lovely home.

The Original Sales Details

Why Blog

Why write a blog at all, good question. Robert and Emma assure us no one is interested so why bother. Firstly, Helen is interested as she is in Sheffield and wants to know what is happening.


Secondly we are interested. It looks like building a house will be a roller coaster where it is easy to get bogged down in the frustration. Having something to be able to look at when it is all over seems like a good idea. So here is the 78 Stafford Road Blog.