Outline Planning Permission

The next step it to obtain Outline Planning Permission from Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (CNES) Planning Dept. The forms for this are quite complicated and extensive, so it's a good idea to hire a surveyor to handle this for you. There are several surveyors in Stornoway, so it's good to shop around. We have been using a nice gentleman called Robert Adam who has been handling this process for us.

He first had us go to the Scottish Water to get plans from them to where the water mains are located. We had to do the same for Scottish Hydro electric as the previous derelict house had had electric installed and the electric pole was still attached! Bob had to perform 'water percolation' tests as well. He ensured that we had the correct documents and certificates and submitted these to the council. The cost for planning permission for us was just under £1000. The process to go through planning takes a minimum of 2 months. Planning permission was granted back in August subject to conditions - which was that emergency vehicle access has to be taken into account.

But obtaining the permission doesn't mean you can go ahead! The project at the moment is at a standstill because the Building Warrant hasn't been issued. Back in Spring, a lot of regulations have been changed yet again. I am not sure if it is the Council who have decided to implement extra (and sometimes daft) regulations or they are bringing them in-line with European regulations. A lot of applications currently are being held up because of trying to sort these out. Some of the silly regulations are 'providing an area for exterior drying green as well as interior drying area for clothes'. The heights of light switches have been changed to allow for wheelchair users to be able to reach. So, as it mid-October 2007, many of the surveyors aren't taking in new applications as the system is in a backlog. Hopefully the Council will sort themselves out soon....

Watch this space for further updates on this stage.

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