Grade II New Build With Basement

The last few weeks has seen the basement floor precisely levelled and the first layer of hardcore and concrete laid.  The waterproof membrane is now also down and a metal reinforcement mesh suspended over the top. George and his team are taking meticulous care over the levels and dimensions, and progress is currently slow but necessarily so.

   Interestingly, whilst our Architects, Roger Coy & Partnership, (www.rogercoy.co.uk) designed the basement and their Engineer worked out the construction method, it is George, our site manager, from builders Seckington & Whitehead, who has had to work out exactly how to build what the Engineer wants - not a simple task when it comes to waterproofing a basement.  Evidently, it is all to do with who is insured to take what responsibility.  

   It is now more than two weeks since a meeting was convened on site with our Architect, representative from EON and the company responsible for negotiating way leaves for a new electricity pole to be sited in our garden.  We are still waiting for quotes for the options discussed.  The question is where to put it.  Unfortunately, our existing line will pass within 3 metres of the new house, and therefore has to be moved before building above ground commences. 

   Considerations as to where the pole can go include: stable land for the 6' foundations (excludes putting it in the vicinity of the basement excavations), stays 5m long to be sited within our boundary, and the impact our pole will have on the angle and stays supporting the poles in both our neighbours' gardens.  We have also discussed laying it underground, however laying lectricity cables through domestic back gardens is against EON's policy.  The whole process is long-winded and seems to be back to front.  Having given an initial desk based quote, EON only then visited the site and discovered what they recommended was impractical ...and so we are back to the beginning of what is a 12 week lead time for doing any work on site. 

   In the interim, we finally have a date of November 6 to have our existing gas metre moved.  Still suspended with rope in the middle of the building site, it will be a relief to have this sorted.