Background

In 1999 we bought and moved into a 1920s 4-bedroomed detached house in Dawlish, Devon.

An area of garden alongside the house was on the market as a separate building plot. We bought the plot with the house in order to have a large garden.

The previous owners had had a plan for a conventional 3-bedroomed house, on the ‘building plot’ area, drawn up by an architect. This had been submitted to the local authority for their comments, which were favourable in principle – although with a disclaimer regarding actual planning consent, even at outline stage.

The plot:

The area is approximately 40m by 8m to 10m;

on a steep slope: about 1 in 4 overall;

a top garden area has been cultivated and has some raised beds and mature fruit trees;

below that is a retaining wall with a greenhouse built against it, then a patio and steps;

below that are mature trees and shrubs and compost bins;

below that a tarmac area for car parking;

terminating in a shrubby and steeply sloping boundary.

Next steps:

1. Offer the plot to the permaculture design community to get some ideas for what could be done.
2. Seek a competent designer for the eco-build, and/or a permaculture designer with building expertise.
3. Get a design for the plot drawn up.
4. Seek planning consent.
5. Revise design as necessary.
6. Implement.