You've asked Kevin McCloud some real corking questions about everything from how to achieve a successful self build, right through to posers about his views on sustainability. Here are just a few of the very best, with Kevin's, as ever, informative answers.
A: I think to be over optimistic. What it leads to is the mistake of never really allowing enough money. Nearly everyone goes over budget. Yet everybody at the start believes theirs is going to be the perfect self build. If they didn't we would never be allowed to film it!
A: Personally, I'm very interested in sustainable building and the creative re-use of an old building is often a very sustainable and planet-friendly way of building. But, it can also be extremely expensive. Building from scratch gives you the opportunity to specify every element of the building and not have to dove-tail your vision into another structural design.
A: It can be, especially for unusual designs, but from my experience, truly innovative and excellent design will often prevail. It may mean taking the planning decision to appeal, and it may mean changing the design. It may even mean incorporating sacrificial elements to the proposal which you can trade with planning officers. There is also a clause in the Town and Country Planning Act which permits development on greenfield sites, providing the design is of outstanding architectural merit.
A: Ah! There are a number of commercial and government organisations, for example, Plot Finder (www.plotfinder.net). But everyone that I've met who has found an unusual site has found it with the help of serendipity or divine providence. You've just got to keep your eyes peeled and work very hard. But also, think laterally, because it is often the disused grain warehouse, mill or cycle shed that can provide a starting point for a new build.
A: I would always recommend that somebody takes on the role of project manager . Either you, if you have the time and energy (and some experience) or your surveyor, or your architect. Somebody needs to be incredibly organised and knowledgeable and sit on the build to make things happen when they should.
A: Of course. It's perfectly possible to build sustainably with drawings, a full spec and a strict schedule. With care and planning it's also possible to build without spending too much more than on a conventional build. Personally, I don't see why conventional, mass-market housing can't be built more sustainably and indeed there are several development trusts that are trying to prove just that.
My involvement in Grand Designs has not affected my view but it has informed it. I sometimes use our filming days as an opportunity to nose around and research new build materials and techniques but what has helped me formulate my views is the work I've done with WWF on their One Planet Living campaign- I'm am ambassador for WWF and OPL, as it's called, is about trying to create a million sustainable homes in the UK.
A: I'd like to see houses which are even cheaper and affordable. Wouldn't it be great if a project that costs £350,000 only came in at £150,000?!
A: Yeah, I'm always pretty honest. I have been less than admiring of some of them though. I say what I think and the real point here is that I get a hand in choosing the projects in the first place. So the ones I don't like, we don't film! It's much easier that way. I have to spend 18 months of my life with these people, so that would be just miserable if I hated it. There's another point to make here actually, sometimes a design might not be quite to my taste but I'm not really interested in exercising my taste, I'd rather exercise my judgment. One thing I've learnt from all this is that we don't want the world to look the same- there's room for lots of different things, we need diversity.
A: Funny that, isn't it? I know it to be true and it's to do with the fact that most building materials like wood, steel and even concrete can be added to or reduced in size on site, whereas toughened glass , once toughened, can't be cut. As a result, the opening needs to be finished and measured in order for the glass to then be ordered which usually takes eight to 12 weeks (which is actually a fairly standard delivery time in the construction industry, for anything).
A: Hehehe, yes! They're the ones you don't see and they're the ones that really hack me off because we spend months filming them! Mercifully there aren't too many of them.
A: Whether a builder gives you a deadline or a completion date is really dependent on the terms under which you engage them. For example if you are paying them a day rate it's not in their interests to finish quickly. If you are paying them in lump sums that add up to a pre-agreed total, then they will be more motivated. The best motivation for any builder is a penalty clause for late finishing. Having said all this, builders can be tempted to bodge a job to get it finished if they are going to be penalised.
There is a method called management contracting where you employ a project manager to look after the job and he then employs sub contractors that he knows and has worked with. You pay him his fee, he passes the sub-contractors bills to you and you pay them directly. You get the benefit of a very organised and motivated workforce. And, I think, a better job than you would get if you paid a building firm.
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