This was October 2006 before any work began

Friday 17th February 2007

Its 20 weeks since we first stepped onto the site to start clearing....

The site is around 0.25 acres (0.1 hectares) and comprised an old derelict double garage and a wooden shack and piles and piles of debris.

The main attraction is the potential view across the valley and the fact that it is 200 metres from the Ashdown Forest.

We knew the family who were selling and bought it on an option subject to getting planning permission.

We started with a local timberframe company who worked up a design for the site and submitted it for planning. I heard some time later that it was about to be rejected, so I immediately withdrew the application! ....(if it looks as if your application is going down the pan....don't let a rejection get recorded...withdraw it!)

We then started a difficult period thrying to talk to the planners, and eventually got an audience.

They were not happy with the sub-division of the plot, thought the house was too big, the house would be too close to a very large Copper Beech with a tree preservation order on it and the house would restrict light to adjacent neighbours.

I guessed then it would be difficult but perhaps not impossible.

I ditched the timberframe company as the architectural advice was a bit dubious and decided to approach Huf Haus.

I had the feeling that I would have to take this application to appeal, but when Alexander ( our Huf Architect) came to see the site and the Copper Beech sitting in the middle of the plot, he thought it looked nice....in fact he said 'Wonderful, a nice tree so close to where we can put the house!!!'

At this time the option period was running out, so we had to move fast to get the application in, and surprise, surprise, the planners liked it!!!!!!

I did a quick analysis of sunlight/daylight calulations and submitted those just before the committee as there were concerns about how dark the house would be, so close to the tree. We trotted along to the District Council to see the application get approval.....that was back in the summer of 2005.

You can see these things take a little time.....the actual house build is so quick in comparison!!!!!

As for costs.....

You can pay anything for the land!!!!

A nice plot of half a acre went for £400,000 nearby, just before we bought ours, but we paid 250K

As for the build, work on around £1300/metre for the Huf element (without any kitchen)

Ground works/services/drainage will depend on the site but ours will be around£40K

Don't forget the landscaping ....which is whatever you want to pay

Then if you are doing the project as a couple, make a generous allowance for your partner's influence.......project management of the budget at this point goes straight out of the window!!!!. You have been warned!!!!! If you want to see some more piccys of Huf Hauses...go to the Huf Haus Owners site...there's a link on my blog

This was Early December 2006, just finishing the tiling