Meeting Council Planner, Any Advice?

MrLNB

Hello all,
ok, the story so far,

1. Designed a house, council said no way,
2. Designed another one, council said nice and passed it on to an architect in the council, to have a look over, as its is contemporary style. The architect was being a typical architect, "its not really nice, its a bit fussy" "gables are a bit long, max 8mtrs".

I am not letting this design drop, i am meeting the planner next week with my engineer. I am going in with a sales pitch, I was told that my second design unlike my first one has ticked so many boxes on the current rural dev plan.

So im going in for a chat. when I am paying so much for a house, I think id like it to be something i admire, not something which was a thought from a council architect.

So any tips for my meeting would be great. dos and dont's, previous experience in meeting etc. . . .

Thanks in advance LNB

smashey

Biggest don't...

Don't antagonise the planner.

No6

Be nice, ask them what they want you to do, show some flexibility, do some of what they want tick a few more of their boxes, you were unfortunate to be refered to the Architects Setion, you could end up with anything with some of them!!! :eek:

Poor Uncle Tom

Have valid reasons for your full design, not just parts of it, and remember personal reasons are valid. Be able to explain your design in terms of your site, your surroundings and your needs. Push your design without being condecending or insulting.

If you go in and give the impression that you will change any or all aspects of the design then that's what you will have to do.

Remember it is your home, your design, your site. If you have valid reasons for your entire design then Your views are every bit as valid as the council's architects.

Good Luck.

fishfoodie

Resist the urge to describe any of the planners 'suggestions' as hideous or god-awful eyesores.

I know someone who made some ill-chosen comments about a design change suggested by a planner, & subsequently found out that the planner had the same design on their own home.

Ooops :eek:

smashey

fishfoodie wrote: »

I know someone who made some ill-chosen comments about a design change suggested by a planner, & subsequently found out that the planner had the same design on their own home.

Ooops :eek:

:D:D

NickTellis

Bring along any sketches you may have showing the fully finished and landscaped house. If you can convince the planners that you are passionate about your design and have spent a lot of time (and money) researching layouts before coming up with this particular design then it'll go a long way towards swaying them in your favour. Mention that you've read all of the local planning laws and conditions and have ensured that your design meets the criteria laid out in them.

If all else fails just give the planners a wink and in your best Captain Picard voice say "make it so" before sauntering out the door...