The £3k house

[BREWSTERS]

Don't know if I could live in something like this, but I can appreciate why someone would.

Trouble is you'd end up looking like the guys father-in-law (there's a picture of him on the site somewhere).

http://www.simondale.net/house/

 

[disruptive]

I like it, wondering about planning permission though - it might be a temporary structure? Thumbs up for saving a fortune, beats paying rent/mortgage on these aspirational kennels that we live in.

 

[max99x]

love it! would be amazing as a getaway!

 

[mat]

Looks like something out of a computer game. Love it!

 

[diablo]

Fantastic find Brewsters.

Incredibly interesting and website and inspirational family.

As someone who has gone down the self-build / conversion route before, I take my hat off to him.

 

[crabfoot]

There's actually a lot of stuff "out there" about building houses from straw - a much commoner technique on the continent than in GB, but you can get planning permission for it.

 

[Systreg]

Think I saw this eco house build on the TV programme Grand Designs a while back, I could happily live in that house, no problem. Grand Designs had a straw built house on the programme in Lot, France, last week, that looked the dogs doodahs when finished.

 

[jasman]

Absolutely enchanting. Bilbo Baggins would be proud! It would be too small for my liking to have as a main home but would be an awesome den at the bottom of the garden, or a really magical holiday let. They could tunnel underground and make a vast network of vaults and underground tunnels!

As far as planning permission goes, you wouldn't necessarily need it if you just built it and didn't tell anyone for a while. Once a structure has been there for a certain amount of time (4 years I think) as long as it was not hidden and no objections have been raised, you can keep it even though planning permission was not granted.

 

[disruptive]

Absolutely enchanting. Bilbo Baggins would be proud! It would be too small for my liking to have as a main home but would be an awesome den at the bottom of the garden, or a really magical holiday let. They could tunnel underground and make a vast network of vaults and underground tunnels!

As far as planning permission goes, you wouldn't necessarily need it if you just built it and didn't tell anyone for a while. Once a structure has been there for a certain amount of time (4 years I think) as long as it was not hidden and no objections have been raised, you can keep it even though planning permission was not granted.

I guess it helps if you keep your neighbours on side...its really all about that "permission" and this is where the big boys stiff us...because the house builders can land speculate and push for permission. In my local area I have never known a developer give up on one of their land parcels...ever. They keep going the successive councils and leaderships until they get the development going.

 

[doodlebug]

Think I saw this eco house build on the TV programme Grand Designs a while back ?

I seen it on tv aswell, I am sure that because so much is covered or under ground or something that they didn't need planning permission but I think they bought some Greenbelt land though so you can't just build one in the forest of Dean for eg,,besides there's big Boars in there

 

[Pred]

think looks wonderful, Bilbo Baggins would approve
very small though, ok for one or a couple

thing is nowhere does it mention about planning permission, legals etc

 

[diablo]

thing is nowhere does it mention about planning permission, legals etc

http://www.simondale.net/house/planning.htm

 

[Pred]

sorry, missed that
superb stuff

 

[Aaron Clifford]

I'd love to live in a house like this but the inability to be able to grow a large grey beard would probably leave me feeling adequate.

 

[Pred]

I'd love to live in a house like this but the inability to be able to grow a large grey beard would probably leave me feeling adequate.

hairy feet would do

 

[newguy]

I love stuff like this. People forget their are other ways to live your life. Too busy keeping up with the Joneses.