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too expensive and more than they could afford. ‘The building consultant spent a lot of time with us, and explained that there wouldn’t be much of the existing house left, and the layout and appearance would be that of a jumbled building with mis-matched brickwork, so we began to reconsider. What tipped the scale for us was the fact that a new house would be built to our requirements and would ultimately be more cost effective as New Build Homes are 0% rated for VAT, so the additional cost of rebuilding would be offset against the VAT we would save. We simply had no idea about this at the start’, recounts Mena. So, they set about redesigning their new dream home, and applying for planning permission again. This was no easy option, and took another year including lodging an Appeal against their initial refusal. Planning permission was eventually granted, but with Conditions attached,
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mainly in respect of the sustainability of the house. They had to meet strict criteria for the insulation, efficiency of the services and the environmental impact of the materials used in the construction. The plot was also located within a flood risk zone, and provisions had to be made to ensure minimal risk to the structure from any potential flooding that could occur. In addition to this, a water tank had to be installed to store rainwater to ensure that the existing sewers were not stressed in times of heavy rainfall. ‘We had to employ more specialist consultants to assist in dealing with these issues, but I didn’t mind so much, as we wanted the house as Eco-friendly as possible,’ describes Ash. Solar panels, additional insulation in the floor, wall and roof, under-floor heating to all 3 floors powered by a highly efficient Condensing boiler, and low energy LED lighting, were just some of the features included in the design of the house. A
domestic sprinkler system was also necessary to comply with building regulations to allow them to have an open plan ground floor design. The whole ground floor is an open plan area covered with a unique black and white seamless resin finish, which steps down to the kitchen at a lower level which was designed to follow the natural ground level, and allow for a higher ceiling level. The south facing bi-fold doors flood the living area with natural light and warmth, and join the lounge to the garden when entertaining. ‘The whole process was a real rollercoaster ride, and we’ve learned a lot, and wouldn’t want to go through with it again. However, we’re glad we did, and would advise others to make sure they get the right people working with them from the start.’ Building Design Expert Kish Bhudia KDB Design