Building Ireland’s most eco-friendly house?

Gloomtastic!

Events, dear boy, events....

The famous quote from Harold MacMillan when asked what was the greatest challenge to a statesman.

We have an adverse possession claim on the site (one of the neighbours is claiming squatters rights). Had a call from my solicitors this afternoon. Not sure of the legalities yet but seems the vendor wasn't being entirely truthful in the legal pack.

Never a dull day in the property development game. Watch this space........

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121464196#Comment_121464196

Ohh, that's terrible....but I suppose you can still be working away with your plans until this is sorted out.

I believe if they are claiming 'squatters rights ' they must have been using the land continuously for 12 years, without the knowledge of the owner, hard enough to prove before the courts for them. Start proceedings immediately

Gloomtastic!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121464264#Comment_121464264

The solicitor is having kittens, I'm not too worried. According to the law, 'it has to be secured and in continuous use'. I can have half a dozen affidavits in front of a judge tomorrow stating otherwise.....

gk5000

Let the vendor worry/pay for any legal issues. Not your problem.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121464343#Comment_121464343

Oh yeah, and if the person who sold it to you were aware that it was being used, then they have no claim.

Gloomtastic!

Hello again,

The rusty wheels of justice have been resisting any sort of movement on this deal but it finally looks like the site is mine.

Still haven't resolved the squatter problem yet. They haven't lodged any claims with the Land Registry so I believe it was just a ruse by one of the neighbours to try and buy the site cheaply. Going to try meet with them soon to find out how I can keep them onside for the duration of the project and beyond. I've been advised that money is only way to deal with this problem.

Next hurdle is getting planning permission. The 'Local needs' rule applies which is just a form of discrimination that prevents Dubliners from outbidding locals on any land deals. The No. 1 rule is that only persons who are actively engaged in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, bloodstock and peat industry will get permission. Luckily for me, I've been a chicken farmer since the onset of COVID here in Dublin and plan to continue this at the site. It was a great decision to make back then and we continue to reap the rewards. Everybody, with a garden, should keep chickens!

However, it will be a new build on a conservation site so I need to get initial approval from both the Westmeath Conservation Officer and Heritage Officer before we do anything. If they are on board, I have a local Councillor who has agreed to help me get this through. As with everything in Ireland, it's all about who you know.

Onwards……….

herbalplants

Following with great interest.

Gloomtastic!

Ok everyone, we have progress. I've had the site surveyed and you can now see it without the overgrowth, brambles and ivy. Big thank you to Owen at Arrow Surveys (https://arrowsurveys.ie/). To carry out a survey these days you need access to satellites but our site is covered in deciduous trees in full leaf so it proved very difficult but he did a fantastic job.

So we have two surveys– a topological one that gives you the lay of the land, the positioning of the buildings and because they will be important to the use of the site, the positioning of all the vertical trees. And a survey of the existing buildings – thickness of the walls etc

You can only see the entrance to the Ice House on the topological survey– the two thick lines to the left of the summer house on top of the hill. But because it's underground, that will require it's own survey.
I've attached pdfs of them so you can have a look.

We have a name for the project – The Walled Gardens at Moydrum. All my businesses and projects start with the word The. They are the definitive article.

Had a meeting with the architect last week – Blair Adamson at MMA Architects in Athlone. He has an interactive 3D version of the survey that is so cool.

As mentioned before, the idea is to build on top of the existing buildings. The old estate cottages will be used as animal housing and workshops initially. If and when we can underpin, repoint and insulate them from the damp, they may change to accommodation. The cottages extend 40metres so we have lots of space to play with.

My neighbour that was claiming squatter rights has yet to proceed with any claim. I've written to him a few times to hopefully avoid any form of legal representation but he has yet to engage with me. No news is good news on this one I believe but he will need to be brought on side before anything can proceed.

Any questions please just ask. I'm a great believer in Boards.ie and the passionate people who actively engage with this place everyday. No matter how much you know about something, there is always someone out there that knows more.

TWGaM - Site Survey.pdf

TWGaM - Buildings Survey.pdf

Onwards.......

looksee

It all looks very interesting, that seems like a lot of accommodation in the row of old cottage ruins. Have you any indication of how Planning will react to them being restored as accommodation? You mention using them as animal accommodation but my information was that old cottages have to go straight from human accommodation to restoration - if they have had an interim period of use as animal accommodation or stores then they will not be given PP for restoration to human accommodation.

Gloomtastic!

The architect’s biggest concern is me meeting the local needs criteria. I wasn’t planning on living in the old cottages but I will need to put forward a pretty convincing business plan to show this project is feasible. One of the easiest ways of doing this is offering accommodation. This place, if restored sympathetically, will hopefully be a big draw.
If that means no animal accommodation in the meantime, so be it. We’re only talking about chickens and maybe a few goats so they can go anywhere.

looksee

Don't take my word for it, it may be a local notion (this was in Tipperary), but something to be aware of. Planning may be easier for holiday accommodation though.

Gloomtastic!

Yes, the plan is for a venue. There are 10 rooms, Could you designate 2 as animal housing and 8 as accommodation?

Gloomtastic!

Good news. We had a visit from the Executive Architect at Westmeath County Council, and

• 'The application is considered to be a positive one which at this time will have the support of the council and the conservation/heritage section'.

• 
  Here is the site. You can see the folly in the centre of the garden and the entrance to the ice house is to the right of that.
  
  Below are the initial drawings from the architect that show a one bedroomed house at one end of the row of estate cottages with four bedrooms ensuite at the other end. In the centre we have a flat roof/stage area for open air perfomances. The detached building on the right will be a recording studio/gig space.

The outside of the buildings will be covered in recycled plactic. This is to allow for a vertical garden and rainwater collection system.

Mollyb60

Any proposals for the folly Gloom or are you not allowed to touch it?

Gloomtastic!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123054565#Comment_123054565

It’s called the Summer House in the heritage archives but I’m still undecided about what it’s final purpose will be.

I have to engage a Grade 1 conservation architect to draw up any plans we have for it. There are only four walls at the moment and no roof. I can’t find any record in the heritage archives about how the roof looked originally. We suspect it may have been domed.

As you can see in the topography survey above, the room is circular with a fireplace in one corner. If you look at archive photographs of the adjoining castle, one of the turrets is castellated with a chimney stack in one corner. something like that would be really cool but it will probably be up to the architect and heritage/conservation officers to decide.

The ice house will also need a Grade 1 architect to draw up plans but I’ve asked to be allowed put a spiral staircase in the well with shelves coming off it so I can use it as an indoor garden.
Something like this that I sketched on ChatGPT. They seem happy with this plan

heratage11

nice project have you applied to the local council for planning permission?

Gloomtastic!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123196963#Comment_123196963

Thanks. We have outline planning which is the first step.

Visited the site yesterday with my regular architect and also a Grade 1 Conservation Architect. First time meeting him but he has such passion for his work, it was very encouraging.

My plans have now got to change slightly. All the trees have to go. They are not the original trees so we get to start again. Big job but it will totally change the outlook from the folly - The Summer House.

Big news on the next door folios. The family that were claiming squatters rights on my site, claim to have bought the two adjoining sites and have started clearing them to reveal a magnificent two-story farm courtyard. The stonework is incredible. Arches everywhere.
However, the An Tailte records haven’t changed. (Mine took about a month to be put in my name after completion).

Gloomtastic!

The trees are maybe a few decades old so are considered secondary growth. They are growing in all the wrong places and some are putting the protected structures at risk. Both architects believe they all have to go.
On the plus side we get to plant native Irish trees. It will make a huge difference to the biodiversity on the site.

Gloomtastic!

I wanted to keep all the vertical trees - there’s about 30 of them. But all three architects who have been on site believe they have to go - for the sake of the protected structures and the original outlook. That’s Westmeath CoCo’s top architect and my two conservation architects. I have to trust their expertise.

Gloomtastic!

But there are no historic trees. Here’s the site map again. All the trees are marked as little circles. Look how many are next to the outer walls and the folly in the centre.
A couple of the trees came down during the last storm, no damage done thank goodness. But we might not be as lucky next time and there will be a next time.

Gloomtastic!

When we have all the plans approved, I intend to meet with all the local residents to discuss my intentions. They’re a bit contentious so dialogue will be important.

xhomelezz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123197190#Comment_123197190

Best of luck with that!

Gloomtastic!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123197238#Comment_123197238

All the locals I’ve met so far have been very supportive. They see a piece of history, they’ve known all the lives, going to ruin and they want to see it improved.

The neighbours next door however are a different matter. Looks like they’ve fallen out with everyone nearby so will be also counting on the goodwill my standing up to them will bring

Environmentally, there will be little to no traffic increase to the area. Visitors will be bused in/out via electric car/bus.

The two housing wings will be the first of their kind in Ireland and showcase what can be achieved if you think a little bit outside the box.

The outdoor performance space will bring beautiful music to the area for all to hear.

My plans to include a recording studio/gig space will be the most contentious. It will be totally dependent on the sound-proofing. I like very noisy music.

timmyntc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123198403#Comment_123198403

*Admin Snip*

looksee

Its hard to see how the all trees could be protected, there seems to be a high percentage of sycamore which is not native and is a weed of a tree, out competing native trees.

Gloomtastic!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123199446#Comment_123199446

Thanks for bringing this to our attention now as opposed to when we apply for planning. Those PDFs are unsearchable. Any chance you can show us the relevant sections? It would be very helpful.

A couple of questions. Is Mountain Laurel covered with this legislation? and if a protected structure (monument) is structurly at risk from a tree, who has precedence?

timmysimins68

I have just been reading the comments. This looks to be a difficult situation. For the monuments and local significance this seems to be part of a castle I think the approach here would be to consider everything in relation to the environment. We are entering a time in which anything related to the environment is being scrutinized highly in terms of the European Union 🇪🇺 I do know that they are taking tings very seriously. In terms of the air quality I do agree that trees are a very important part of it.

Like anything in Ireland today there is laws for everything one off housing is almost gone now completely due to environmental laws it’s rare to see any one off housing being developed I think the general public and government are much more aware of the environmental impacts and the younger generations seem to be very aware of it

Capt'n Midnight

MOD

I've moved posts about trees to a new merged thread so as not to derail this one.

Saving Historic Wood lands on RMP structures across Ireland.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123201051#Comment_123201051

Can you link the thread to these notifications?

Gloomtastic!

I had an interesting meeting at lunchtime with a good friend. I told him of Heratage's arrival on this thread and their threat of legal action that might scupper my plans for the site.

My friend mentioned about a colleague of his who had a similar problem when, all of a sudden, all the trees and shrubs on their land just died, all within a few months of each other. They then had to plant new trees on the land with no ill-effect on them whatsoever. Isn't that just mad Ted.