This Time I'm Really Going To Do It

Watty1

Yes, absolutely the point I am at.   I will have a very different life and I have options as to what that life will be.

My hoped-for outcome is a very small house built on the land here.  To that end I met the architect for "the project" today.   Oh my, she showed me a model and drawings.    I am beyond excited.   It was everything I have dreamed for in miniature.

She will now work up plans we will discuss with planners. Nothing official but it will inform my next move with the ex.

If it is a no way from Planners, then I have a plan B and a plan C.  Since seeing the model, Plan A is the one my heart wants and I am trying not to get to attached to it in case Planning say a no.    

Suffolk_lass

If your architect is worth her money she will already have an understanding of National and Local planning policies and will understand the criteria you need to meet to stand a chance of gaining permission.

If say, you were a horse breeder and you could demonstrate a need to attend the site 24x7 so that a mare in foal is not left alone, there is a case for human accommodation to be part of horse accommodation (eg over a stables or immediately adjacent), assuming that the house part had been separately sold. The planners would not like it if you had engineered that situation and your business would need to have been demonstrably running and be viable before permission is likely.

When you refer to outline-planning I think you might be referring to pre-application advice from the local planning authority. Here this is payable and there are one or two dimwits in the local authority planning department who do not seem to appreciate that the advice on the likelihood of approval needs to correlate with local planning policy. A lot of applicants think that because they pay for the advice it gives certainty. Here, the success of a number of judicial reviews by individuals and Parishes against official given permissions based on this poor advice that contradicts their own policies, bears witness to the myth behind that belief.

Watty1

Thanks Suffolk Lass. That is super helpful.  I'm only going for pre-planning at this point because I don't want anything that might influence the value of the property whilst it is in joint ownership.  I've been warned that the view given at pre-planning is not binding.  However, there has been nothing certain in the dealings with the ex and if the balance of probability is no then I will follow one route with the ex, and, if the balance of probability tends towards a yes then another route opens up.   

I've chatted to a planning officer for another County (a relative) who told me at pre-planning she said yes only to turn down the planning at presentation because she read the file properly.   I smiled sweetly at that but silently thought what a frustrating idiot she must be to deal with!!

Both the architect and the planning consultant think we can demonstrate that this meets the local and national planning policies.  The only grey area is around the fact that the local council policy is for disused barns to be used for office space rather than residential preferentially, but we aim to show that the location of said barn would not make a good or viable commercial space as it is located in the middle of land marked as "equestrian".  Sadly, if it were still "agricultural" I would have 'class q' rights and be fine.

The only way I can look at this is a gamble.  It is a great idea, but will it pay off?? I don't know.  But it is worth a try.

Humdinger1

@Watty1 deffo worth a try; and you do have plans B and C in place too.  What timeline are you looking at? Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

Watty1

Well @Humdinger1 the drawings are in, and I am like a child at Christmas as they really are my dream place.   However, I am reminding myself this is a process.    Two weeks for the report to be approved by the planning consultant and then to the council for the pre-planning meeting to see what they will say. Their view will guide my next decision re the ex.

The ex is looking so unhappy these days!   Sunday evening, I had friends over for roast dinner.    Purchased from a supermarket where I had a few loyalty card coupons, so it was a bargain roast.  Friends all bought wine (thus reducing my ability to work enthusiastically on Monday) and I simply ignored him.  He came in, made his own dinner and sat on the sofa watching TV whilst we all drank wine and coffee and giggled through the evening.   Not an ideal situation but a nice evening had by all!  

Watty1

Lovely ride out with a neighbour today.  She is a dressage judge and competitor, and her horse demonstrated some very fancy moves whilst we ambled alongside.   Great fun, and delighted charming cob is so charmingly reliable!

Ramouth

What a lovely update - and a good illustration of why you haven’t just walked away to start somewhere new.  

Watty1

Thanks Ramouth. It is why I have tried so many ways to both make ends meet and stay in the area.   I think this last plan is the last one, if this comes to nothing I will give up (tdepressed right now). 

I've had a lovely weekend, Glyndebourne on Tour so opera Friday and Saturday evening with friends, picnic in the car Friday night (cheap supper) so we could have a lovely restaurant dinner Saturday.  Two late nights and poor sleep have left me exhausted and depressed.  Managed to get up and walk WattyDog but that is about all.   The VNM has a suspicion the ex will just abandon WattyDog so I'm now not stressing about what will become of dog.  Ex frequently just leaves WattyDog with no notice, this week being one of those.   I get a WhatsApp informing me when he will be back.

In order to try and guess if he was away I looked in his room.  He has removed some furniture and a lot of clothes so maybe he is planning something.  The complete limbo, the uncertainty, the not knowing what the future holds has really got me down.  I know none of us know what our future holds but we can at least make plans and dreams and work towards them.   This, no closure, him wandering in out and just leaving or taking dog as he seems fit has become too much.   I'm cold, exhausted and tired.

Humdinger1

@Watty1 you are doing brilliantly under very difficult circumstances.   Tiredness and dark nights inevitably have an impact.   You know what your plan is and will either proceed or walk away quite soon, no?  There's a time limit to this.  Please remember how wonderful you are.   Vnm and all your friends adore you.  Am I being impossibly optimistic if I say that it's always darkest just before the dawn? See what this week brings as I agree with your view, ex is probably plotting something.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

Karmacat

That was a good idea to check out what's in his room - it's not nosiness, it's trying to get the lay of the land.  And remember, part of your depression comes from too little sleep and over-tiredness, even if both were for the right reason (lovely time with friends - excellent reason!).  You've got a good plan, and good people around you who are on your side, stick with it.