News - 1 in 5 home owners make a conversion

One in five home owners have converted lofts or other areas into living space, partly to increase the value of their house, according to new research today.

A survey of 2,000 adults by AA Insurance found that attics were the most popular areas to be converted into a room, although some people transformed sheds or garages into a work space.

The average cost of a conversion was £10,300, although many of those questioned said they had spent less than £5,000 on the work.

Extra space
Janet Pell of AA Insurance said: ‘Many homeowners relish turning unused or ugly areas of their homes into liveable rooms as it means more space for family and less dusty boxes and clutter.’

source: Which

News

News - Home seller packs ‘to be delayed’

Critics say Home Information Packs will add to the cost of selling
The introduction of controversial Home Information Packs is set to be delayed by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly.
She will “update” MPs on the packs, due to be compulsory for anyone wanting to sell their home from 1 June.

The packs, which include an energy efficiency report, have been criticised by the Conservatives and face a legal challenge from surveyors.

Critics say they will increase costs without cutting the number of home sales which fall through.

There have also been concerns that there are not enough people trained to carry out the environmental checks on properties.

Under the changes homes put up for sale in England and Wales must have a pack, costing at least £300, with title deeds and an energy performance certificate.
Energy performance certificates would give sellers and would-be buyers information on the property’s energy efficiency, as well as tips on how the energy efficiency of the home could be improved.

They would also ensure that the UK complies with an EU directive which comes into force in 2009.

Shadow housing minister Michael Gove said: “The government’s plans for HIPs are unravelling. Ministers must now acknowledge that they have botched this from beginning to end.

“Now is the time to work with us in the interests of the housing market and combating climate change.”

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has previously accused the Tories of hypocrisy in not voting to support the packs, which he said would help the environment.
He said the Conservative had campaigned on a slogan of “vote blue, go green” yet failed to support government efforts to fight climate change.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has also sought a judicial review because the government had not consulted properly on the law.

Green

Jeremy Leaf from RICS said last week the packs would make it “more expensive and more difficult” for people to put their homes on the market, as well as being less “green” than they could be.
Among its criticisms were that there was a lack of trained staff ready for the 1 June implementation and called for a delay of a few months.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said 2,000 inspectors had already passed their exams, with another 3,000 in training.

Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Andrew Stunell said “government incompetence…had botched” the packs’ introduction, but his party, like the Conservatives, still support the energy certificates.

Environmental groups Friends of the Earth, WWF-UK and the Campaign to Protect Rural England want HiPs to go ahead because the energy certificates “can play an important role in tackling the UK’s contribution to climate change, as well as saving homeowners money”.

source: BBC

HIPS News

News - Changes to the Planning System

Plans to cut red tape and make it easier to build home extensions are expected to be announced by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly next week.
A White Paper will propose an “impact” test for developments which would currently require planning permission. Under the proposals, such developments would no longer need permission where there is little impact on neighbours. At the same time, planning permission rules would be strengthened for local councils to deal with eyesore schemes.

Minor changes

The White Paper is expected to say that planning permission will no longer be required for minor developments, such as conservatories, extensions and micro-generation devices like solar panels, where it is clear they have little impact.

At present householders must go through the planning system if they have already extended the size of their properties, by more than 10% in the case of terraced houses for example.

This happens even where changes are very minor and there is clearly no impact on others. Instead, a new “impact” test would be introduced.

The White Paper will also include a raft of other measures to support householders’ desires to improve their homes and streamline cost and lengthy delays in the planning system.

Other measures include:

• Allowing minor amendments to be made to a planning permission without the need for a full planning application. This will be able to be done through negotiation with a local authority so, for example, the minor repositioning of a door would no longer need permission
• Streamlining information requirements for all applications with, for example, the introduction of a standard application form
• Introducing a new fast-track appeals system - streamlining the process for householders for appeals
  Ministers are concerned about the time and bureaucracy involved in deciding minor and uncontroversial applications.

The number of householder applications have risen by 114% since 1995 to almost 330,000 per year - and account for around half of applications overall.

These applications are also costly and cumbersome for local people. Currently a single seemingly routine planning application can take up to three months to be decided and cost up to £1,000 to resolve through costs for applications, plans and drawings.

Better focussed

Given that more than nine out of 10 of householder applications generally are finally agreed, ministers believe they are using up scare resources and clogging up the system.

They say these resources would be better focussed on dealing with more difficult decisions and strategic development for local areas, including building more homes for future generations.

It is believed the changes could reduce the number of applications by up to 90,000 per year - up to a maximum of a quarter of householder applications overall.

Ms Kelly will say: “The local planning system should support people’s aspirations to improve their homes rather than act as a barrier.

“Many people do not want to move but do want more room to bring up their kids, or to make minor home improvements or tackle climate change through microgeneration.

“We need changes to ensure the system is proportionate, whilst retaining clear, common-sense safeguards on noise, siting and size to protect neighbours.”

Urban sprawl

The secretary of state will also make clear that no-one undertaking such home improvements will be required to pay any additional council tax on their homes.

As well as slashing red tape for householders, key pillars of the planning White Paper are expected to include enhancing community consultation and engagement, a better decision-making process for handling major infrastructure projects, planning playing a bigger role in tackling climate change and ensuring planning supports vibrant town centres.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has said it fears the White Paper will further undermine the ability of planners to contain urban sprawl.

The organisation said the tone for the document was set by plans to build on about 10,000 acres of green belt land.

The CPRE named eight areas of England where draft plans exist for 19,150 houses and 6,500 acres of further development.

It described it as the “largest onslaught on the green belt for decades”.

The Department of Communities and Local Government said its record showed it could increase building on brownfield sites and protect the green belt.

source: BBC

News planning

Diary - Our Building Specification

At last, we have finished the building spec. We have tried to be as detailed as possible to avoid any confusion between ourselves and the builders so that everything is upfront and understood. We have split the building spec into 3 stages.

• First stage is the structural changes. This includes the roof line changes, the strengthening of the joists and walls and building the dormers. It also includes the stair installation and the insulation of the overall void.
• Stage 2 is the zone creation. The internal stud walls, plumbing, bathroom installation, installing the insulation, plastering and the electrics.
• Stage 3 is the downstairs alterations. Removing the wall between the kitchen and dinning room, moving the lounge wall to create the hallway. Installing the insulation on the outside walls as well as the interior stud walls, plastering, electrics and outside considerations.

I’ve uploaded the spec in word format so if you want to download it and use it for a template for your own works then feel free.

Please click here to download it. - it’s free.

Bathroom builders Diary planning Plumbing

Tips - Kitchen Planning

Draw up a scale plan to try out different layouts. Cut out squares the size of the units and appliances and move them around the plan to get the best design. Alternatively, use the free 3D planning service offered by many kitchen showrooms.

Try to keep your sink, cooker and fridge close together to maximise efficiency. When you draw up your plan, place these first and draw three lines to connect them. This usually results in a triangular shape. The smaller the triangle, the easier it will be to make the most of your kitchen.

The sink, washing machine and dishwasher should ideally be placed against an outside wall so that waste pipes can be plumbed in easily.

Don’t put the fridge next to the cooker as the difference in the temperatures of the two appliances will make both work less efficiently.

Don’t put an appliance in a corner where it might block adjoining cabinets, and don’t position a cooker or hob (especially gas) under a window.

source: Which/ Home renovation

Kitchen planning Tips

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