Two decades later, the idea of building on the land began to build momentum again. While exploring the idea of buying a house, it was always in the back of his mind to build something near where he grew up.  knew it would cost me less, he eplains, and  stuck with that mindset; it stopped me from buying elsewhere.” With his parents, he approached local practice Bolans rchitects. There were no specific prerequisites, but Giancarlo did want an open plan kitchen and front room, with a generally modern and minimalist design, and outdoor space with seating. lso, with climate change in mind, he was keen to eplore different sustainable designs. Other than that, the architects were given free rein. Classed as a backyard deelopment, the plot is surrounded by 23 houses and a church. oiding disruption to these close-by properties was always going to be tough, and even though previous applications had been denied, Giancarlo and his designers were up for the challenge.


PAINFUL PLANNING Unfortunately, no one foresaw just how big that challenge would turn out to be. Hamstrung by a series of delays and local objections, as well as a stubborn planning authority that refused to be eible, achieing consent ended up taking almost two years.


The original designs submitted included a two-storey structure which worked really well, explains Giancarlo. But as the council were adamant that any such volume would disrupt views of the church, the plans were abruptly thrown out. The designers then evolved the scheme into a one-storey three-bedroom bungalow with a central courtyard, however, due to seeral reasons but principally outlooks


24 www.sbhonline.co.uk


from the bedrooms, this was also rejected. mong the other constraints were a bigger courtyard, and a two bedroom limit  think in the end there were about 18 conditions for the bungalow; they really didn’t want this property built,” says Giancarlo. But with a determined architect at the helm combined with Giancarlo’s own strength of will, they eventually achieved a design which the planning officers were happy to recommend. However, after months of not hearing anything following their submission, the project went into non-determination limbo. t was a nightmare, Giancarlo remembers,  had to hire a lawyer to expedite the process.”


Sitting in its last chance saloon, the fate of


the project was in the hands of a local planning committee, and it came down to a single vote. fter almost two years of redesigning and reigging, the team finally secured the elusie planning permission. t was a massie moment for us  it een gets me emotional thinking about it now.”


Giancarlo summarises the challenge he faced: f you dont hae a progressie council, it can be very hard to try and design something different like this.


CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGES You would hope that after such a lengthy planning process, the build itself would have been an easier journey. But as many self-builders will attest, thats rarely how it works. nstead of a self-build mortgage, the proect


was directly funded by Giancarlo and his parents. Looking back, he now admits that a mortgage route with money released in stages may hae been a more controlled way of financing the build. f youre funding it yourself, it can be uite hard to stay on track. To ensure Giancarlo found the right contractor,


nov/dec 2022


LOW POINT


Parting with the first contractor. n your head you think if youre good to people and help them, theyll return it. ts not always like that.


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