Reply to: Sarah Beeny

[Chugnut]

I'd like to know how they get away with it (planning).

I'm hunting for a new house and always check to see if there are any planning applications around the house, and 9 times out of 10, even the slightest extension or change is rejected as "not being in character with the surrounding properties and area" and yet you see a glass monstrosity in the back yard of a Georgion townhouse on that programme.

Beats me.

Agreed.

However, the planning rules have been relaxed recently to allow more work to be carried out without needing to submit an application. Caroline Flint ("Phwooaarr!" - sasguru) knows all about it. http://www.aboutproperty.co.uk/news/...d-$1240136.htm

They now know what a heat pump is too. When I wanted to have one installed this time last year they said I needed to apply for planning because digging the trench constituted "extensive groundwork engineering".

But the trench is to be backfilled, said I. Doesn't matter, we still want an application (with a fee, naturally) they said. "So that must mean I need to apply for planning if I'm going to dig a pond or swimming pool then"? "No you don't need one for that".

"So why do I need one now then, I don't even need to get rid of the soil".

Long pause. "I can't really say, you just need to".

"You don't know what a ground source heat pump is, do you?"

"No, not really".

"Ok, thanks for your input. Bye".

[BrilloPad]

I'd like to know how they get away with it (planning).

I'm hunting for a new house and always check to see if there are any planning applications around the house, and 9 times out of 10, even the slightest extension or change is rejected as "not being in character with the surrounding properties and area" and yet you see a glass monstrosity in the back yard of a Georgion townhouse on that programme.

Beats me.

They know who to bribe.

HTH

[DimPrawn]

Probably the best of the property programs though I don't like it when people try to squeeze in a 'post modern statement' amongst a street full of Victorian houses..

I'd like to know how they get away with it (planning).

I'm hunting for a new house and always check to see if there are any planning applications around the house, and 9 times out of 10, even the slightest extension or change is rejected as "not being in character with the surrounding properties and area" and yet you see a glass monstrosity in the back yard of a Georgion townhouse on that programme.

Beats me.

[gingerjedi]

I see Grand Designs is back on next week...

Bring on the next set of lunes...

And how many will be ex-IT consultants....

Probably the best of the property programs though I don't like it when people try to squeeze in a 'post modern statement' amongst a street full of Victorian houses.

I quite fancy a 'Huf Haus' in the country one day.

[Tensai]

I see Grand Designs is back on next week...

Bring on the next set of lunes...

And how many will be ex-IT consultants....

Plan-b'ers

[BrilloPad]

I do not believe it! Not only are there not picture of, well, anything; but they don't say how much her house is worth! What kind of journalism is that?

I hope the Daily Mail can make up for these errors......

[expat]

She says the boom was ridiculous, the crash inevitable, that no one listened to her advice and she's still making loads of money buying and selling houses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...y-house-prices

No pictures of her dimprawnisabitstupidandsmellsofwee though.

I do not believe it! Not only are there not picture of, well, anything; but they don't say how much her house is worth! What kind of journalism is that?

[ratewhore]

'In the 1980s, I started buying property to do it up and sell it and everyone thought I was mad. Everyone was in dotcom businesses'

hmm, a decade out there missy.

According to wikipedia, she was born in 72 and started a property business when she was 24, so you do the maths. No mention of her funbags there either...

[Bagpuss]

She says the boom was ridiculous, the crash inevitable, that no one listened to her advice and she's still making loads of money buying and selling houses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...y-house-prices

No pictures of her dimprawnisabitstupidandsmellsofwee though.

Most episodes had a scenario along the lines of...."You spent 120k, the current valuation gives you 200k profit, however if you did nothing due to the market your house would be worth 120k more anyway"

Developer "Well 200 is better than 120! I think we were proved right reducing the number of bedrooms"

[voodooflux]

Though I think there could have been alot more about her shirt potatoes......

Photos would have been nice.

[BrilloPad]

no mention of her fantastic n0rk5 in the article either

"and everyone goes on about that fact that she is well endowed (even my father-in-law once commented on that but I think it must have been a time when she was breast-feeding as they were huge)."

Though I think there could have been alot more about her shirt potatoes......

[_V_]

no mention of her fantastic n0rk5 in the article either

Actually it does:

I mean I know from the television that she is attractive and blonde and everyone goes on about that fact that she is well endowed (even my father-in-law once commented on that but I think it must have been a time when she was breast-feeding as they were huge).

[Spacecadet]

here she is on my front doorstep, looking exactly as she does on the television - straight dyed blonde hair, casual in jeans, boots and a jumper - but smaller

no mention of her fantastic n0rk5 in the article either

[Badger]

I still would though.

[BrilloPad]

"But of course they are panicking. They cannot sell their houses and yet they cannot afford to keep them. 'A house that is realistically priced will sell,' she says. 'If everyone understood that and dropped their prices, the market would move again.' She thinks HIPs don't help and abolishing stamp duty on houses priced up to £175,000 makes not much difference either. 'We have to change our attitudes,' she says."