Company Menu
Surveying News
-
Government Tightening the Reins on Household Extensions
On average 200,000 domestic extensions, loft conversions and integral garage conversions are carried out every year. Due to the on-going need to improve the thermal efficiency and reduce energy consumption of our homes then the Government is developing new legislation to bolt onto the existing Building Regulations requirements on thermal efficiency and energy consumption.
Are you considering extending or altering your existing dwelling rather than buying something which better suits your needs? At the moment if you build an extension or loft / garage conversion then there is no requirement to improve the efficiency of the existing dwelling. However after October this year you will be required by the Building Regulations legislation to improve the thermal properties and reduce energy consumption of your home as part of any extension / alteration works.
The improvements will be determined by an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) which is carried out by a trained surveyor who considers the fabric and energy systems in the dwelling to produce a certificate which provides and Energy Efficiency rating and an Environmental Impact rating. This information will then be used to provide recommendations of cost effective energy saving measures for the building which could include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, hot water cylinder insulation, draft proofing, window and boiler replacement.
These consequential improvements could be Green Deal eligible measures for which the Government is allocating £200 Million towards the cost. The Green Deal legislation is in its infancy at the moment under the Governments flag ship Energy Act 2011, which is a financing mechanism for energy efficiency measures in all buildings whereby if the energy savings are greater than the cost of financing the measures over a period of time the payments are ‘attached’ to your gas / electric meter. This allows a property to be upgraded with no upfront costs and the repayments remain with the property if it is sold. What isn’t clear at this stage is over what period of time will be appropriate in each particular circumstance.
McCartney’s Survey Department can deal with all your Planning and Building Regulation issues and our EPC surveyors are being trained to meet the new requirements, therefore we can offer a complete package to you, the home owner.
So if you are considering extending or altering your home please do not hesitate to contact our Leominster Survey Department 01568 616926. -
Update on Legislation for Private Domestic Septic Tanks
In an attempt to clarify the current position both in England and Wales on the registration / permit for discharge on domestic foul water septic tanks, we have spoken to Mr Riley from the Environment Agency who has informed us of the following.
England:
At the moment the necessity to register your septic tank has been put on hold until at the latest December 2012 because the Environment agency and Central Government are reviewing the legislation. There are two basic exceptions to this, the first being if your discharge is more than 2 cubic meters per day (only likely if you own a mansion) and you are located in a groundwater source protection zone (ring the Environment Agency on 03708 506506 and ask for information on Groundwater source protection zones and give them your postcode and they will advise you free of charge).
Wales:
It is still necessary to register your septic tank by the completion of a standard form but registration date has been extended from 1st January 2012 to end of June 2012. However the Welsh assembly is going to send out approximately 73,000 pamphlets to those households that it believes will have a private septic tank which you can fill in with the relevant information and return it to them.
Should you require any further information or advice then please contact your local McCartneys office. -
New Legislation for Septic Tanks
In England and Wales the Environment Agency introduced new legislation in April 2010 regarding discharges of domestic sewage effluent from septic tanks and other small treatment plants. Before 1st January 2012 those of us who are not connected to a mains foul drainage system and live in Wales, must register the discharge of waste water from our septic tank by writing or emailing to the Environment Agency with specific information regarding size, location (to sensitive sites), design / construction and operation / maintenance. At the moment if you live in England this is not necessary.
However if any of the criteria are not achieved then a bespoke application for an Environmental Permit must be submitted at a cost of £125 for both England and Wales. An Environment Agency officer may inspect and advise after receiving the application and the permit, when granted, is issued to the applicant (owner / occupier) of the premises. Should the owner of the premises change then the new owners will have to go through the same process again to renew the permit.
The Environment Agency are of the opinion that they will be able to register 75% of installations for which there is no charge but the remaining 25% will need an Environmental Permit to discharge. Should you require any further information or advice then please contact your local McCartneys office. -
Big Numbers Attend Royal Welsh
This year’s Royal Welsh Show was a great success, McCartneys stand looked fantastic and we welcomed many of our clients, old and new for a chat and a cup of tea. Over 227’000 visitors came to the show over the four days despite the weatherman again threatening us with bad weather, a little wind and rain never seems to put us off so as always the McCartneys team of professionals were on hand with a little light refreshment and a smile.
This year McCartneys also sponsored the International Pavilion and our parasols on the Balcony stood out for all to see while providing much needed cover for near 700 guests from 40 different countries.
It was fantastic to speak to our clients at the show, some of which were only visiting and some who were entering into the shows many competitions. we hope you all enjoyed your time at the show as much as we did ! -
At The Top Of Our Game
Wimbledon may be on everyone’s lips at the moment but McCartneys have more exciting news to be talking about with two of our professionals being at the ‘top of their game’ after passing some exciting exams.
Simon Edwards from our Brecon Office has passed the RICS Assessment of Professional Competency and is now a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), he is now a Chartered Valuation Surveyor and is also a member of the RICS Valuer Registration Scheme specialising in Compulsory Purchase (e.g. road schemes), Valuation (rural, commercial and residential property), Property Management and Access Rights Over Land (e.g. wayleaves, pipelines). Simon covers the areas of Brecknock , Abergavenny and Llandovery and although he is based from our McCartneys Brecon Office Simon does also spend time at our Hay Office.
Simon is currently running a professional advice surgery at Brecon Market on Horse and Cattle sale days where farming clients can have the opportunity to discuss other professional services that they may require from McCartneys.
Simon is not our only McCartneys ‘player’ that we are talking about with Geraint Jones from our Kington Office passing APC in Building Surveying. Geraint is now a Chartered Building Surveyor and a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Geraint is also McCartneys main Commercial EPC assessor and is a valued member of our survey team after joining McCartneys four years ago.
Geraint has gained the expertise in a constantly evolving market to become a Qualified Building Surveyor, allowing him to be at the ‘top of his game’ and keep up to date with what is happening in property and construction today.
McCartneys continues to encourage our ‘team’ to progress in their careers and in turn develop the professional services that we, as a company, offer….
…and just like the players at Wimbledon, we feel a little support goes a very long way! -
A Bespoke Design for Local Business, R.M. Jones New Premises.
Work has begun on the new premises for R. M. Jones, the area’s leading farm and small holding supplier. The new premises designed by McCartneys LLP will be due to open on the 1st of September 2011. R. M. Jones, the family run business started in 1960 and is based in Hay-on-Wye with Farmcentres in Abergavenny & Hereford.
The survey department at McCartneys LLP are proud to be associated with R. M. Jones and Collins Design and Build on the project. Having been involved from the initial concept and that moving to an alternative premises was imminent because of the redevelopment of the market site, this has been an interesting project for McCartneys as R. M. Jones have historically adapted to their environment rather than having the opportunity of designing a bespoke premises for their business. The building, specifically designed to their requirements will assist the company in providing a better service to the agricultural community.
“We are looking forward to having a new, larger Farmcentre in Hereford. We will be able to offer our farming customers a wider range of products & much easier parking.
We will be able to store more of the bulky products such as Crystalyx & Superstock mineral buckets and have better facilities for loading customers’ vehicles. “ Rod Jones, R.M. Jones. -
Community and Landowner Benefit?
In 2010 we reported on the proposed Local Development Plans that the Planning Authorities in England and Wales would be developing in 2011. Well, here we are and the Planning Authorities are working on their Development Plans, which are expected to be in place in 2014. The plan will identify land to address development needs including proposals for housing including affordable housing, employment, retailing, recreation and leisure, transport facilities, health and community uses etc. This planning tool is important to everyone as it sets out the framework for decision making on planning applications.
In 2008 Herefordshire Council introduced a Developer Contribution scheme for new residential dwellings and business development. This was legislation that secured financial contributions towards transport, affordable housing, children and young people, open space, library facilities, recycling and refuse. Due to the economic decline later that year the scheme was withdrawn and it has not yet been reinstated.
In January 2011 the Shropshire Council produced a Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule, which begins to explain their ideas regarding a community infrastructure levy, which is intended to provide a fair and transparent system of developer contribution. The levy is incurred by all new build residential development over 100 square meters, which effectively means that every new dwelling will be eligible to pay the levy and becomes effective in October this year. When planning permission is granted a liability notice will be issued that sets out the levy and that it will be due for payment when the development is commenced. The proposed levy rates will not apply to affordable homes, employment, commercial, hotels and leisure etc but residential development at an average rate of £40 per square metre in principal settlements but £120 per square metre in rural areas (£13,000 for a typical 3-bed detached dwelling).
The rationale between these two parcels of legislation, which are tied in with other policies, is to bring land forward for development, which then releases a contribution from the landowner, which benefits the community. It is not designed to penalise landowners but to present a package of measures that will enable rural communities to influence measures that will promote growth and encourage consolidation and ultimately become more sustainable. This is particularly relevant at the time writing this article bearing in mind the quantity of primary schools that are being considered for closure by Shropshire Council whereas the policies we have briefly outlined could preserve such rural facilities. Also a landowner is more likely to be granted planning permission on land around small rural settlements with this legislation in place.
Do you have a parcel of land, which you think should be considered for inclusion in the Development Plan? If so then we have until the end of April 2011 to complete the relevant proposal forms and submit them to the Local Authority on your behalf.
For more information please contact Mr David Hughes on Tel: 01568 616926 or Email: david@mccartneys.co.uk
