2007 - 2009 We find a plot and get planning permission

I'd always wanted to build a house, an eco friendly house, a house that really suited us now and for the future.

September 2007 I was out shopping and saw the plot in the estate agent's window. Public viewing that weekend. We liked it, well I loved it. It has outline planning permission. I start dreaming revised plans but we fail to agree a price.

April  2008 The plot is put up for auction. We plan to bid and then risk a pre-bid offer a few hours before. It's ours!

(And we will always suspect no-one else was interested in a fairly narrow, steep, stony plot with three huge beech trees that have preservation orders.)

February 2009 I join the greenbuildingforum.co.uk I find it  fascinating and informative. I'm very grateful to the members who offered and continue to offer information and advice. http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/

The list of "wants" grows, we want a south facing roof for solar panels, morning sun in the bedroom, afternoon light in the sitting room, views of the trees to the back and across the valley to the front.

Equal sized rooms for the children. Good drying space. Plenty of windows to the south, hardly any to the north. Great insulation, a green roof area. An easy-access ground floor bedroom....

We must avoid the tree roots and overshading issues to the back, yet we need enough space to park at the front. We mustn't overlook certain neighbours, the ridge height has been fixed by the planning department. The list goes on and on...

Drawing continues, books are consulted - many, many books! It's an obsession.

Drawings are drawn and redrawn, models made, and remade.

The models I make prove really useful, with seven walls and six roof planes it's hard to put into words.  I take an early model to visit the planning officer.  He likes it!  It has been carefully designed to be non-controversial.

In the end it feels that these desires and constraints have, themselves, almost literally moulded the house into its present design. I'm finally happy with it.

April 2009 - I apply for planning permission, decision due in 10 weeks.

June 2009 - Full planning permission granted with just a few easy-to-do conditions. Happiness!