FmK Architecture was founded in March 2009, by managing directors Jason Fleck & Ronan McKee.
In 2013 managing director Ronan McKee decided to embark on his very own selfbuild ECOHome.
This blog will take you through all the highs and lows you can expect through the whole selfbuild process.
The blog will be written by myself; Ronan McKee, as I go through the entire process. Hopefully you will find it interesting, informative and enjoyable.
Please feel free to write your comments or share your selfbuild experiences also!!
Planning
Without doubt, the most dreaded stage of the selfbuild process!!
I am originally from a farming background, and as such I always wanted to move back home and build on our land with my very own designed home.
With all the extensive knowledge of the planning process and particularly
PPS21 (since it was introduced in Nov 2008) that I had gained through our practice
FmK Architecture; – I thought I had enough of a chance to try for
Outline Planning Permission.
Outline Planning Permission
So in December 2011, I submitted our Outline Planning Application.
After many discussions, drawings, letters, phone calls, emails and some compromising on my side, I finally got my site approved in February 2012.
The outline application process took just 3months, which I would add is faster than normal, as this can be anything up to 6months!
We have quite a good relationship with working with planning and put quite a lot of effort into our applications, and as a result, we receive quite speedy and positive results –
see our planning approval list here
The Design
Without doubt, as a client and a soon to be self-builder, this is the most exciting and enjoyable part of the whole process!! Seeing all your years of wanting your own bespoke home; all your ideas, dreams, aspirations come to life on a page and then in a realistic 3d Model - it really is a brillant feeling.
For me, as the designer and the client, I found it the most difficult!!
Trying to design a home of your own after designing hundreds of homes for other people.
I decided not to rush this process and just take my time, eventually, after many, many, many drafts and re-designs - i finally got there!!
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3D Concept View - Front
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3D Concept View - Rear
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| Photomontage of House on the Site |
So, after i had finally managed to get to this stage it was down to the making the planning application for reserved matters - which is based on the rules previously set out by the Outine Planning Permision!
I lodged the application in October 2012 and that was it - the waiting game...
the bit every selfbuilder fears - will it get approved??
Again, based on all the experience gained through our practice, I submitted a highly detailed application and I happy to report it received FULL PLANNING PERMISSION in just over a month later.
All be it there were a few issues and concerns along the way, but discussions with planning and again a few comprimises it was all sorted.
I would like to add, planning service receive a lot of bad press when it comes to self builds, but with the knowledge & reputation our practice have gained, along with a good understanding and working relationship that we have developed over the years - we find the planning service and the application process relatively straight forward.
Our ethos at FmK architectures is really; if we think you have a good chance, we make a application - if we think you are wasting your time and more importantly, you hard earned money - then we don't make an application.
This ethos has stood us well since PPS21 was implemented in 2008; as a result we have only received a handful of refused applications - these were mostly high risk applications which the clients were aware of, or ones which vital information was held back from us.
so;
Pheww...
A huge relief!! I can now relax; until i start the next stage - detailed drawings & a Building Control Application to the local council.
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