Daisy Farm Eco Build
We took well over a year to find a suitable plot. During that time we joined a co-housing community to pool our resources and buy a larger property to share. The group did eventually buy a farm in Cornwall, but due to its being in an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) we were told we would not get permission to build a new house, even if it was sustainable. So we pulled out of the group and carried on searching. We were outbid on a 5 acre plot in Cornwall, even though we went way over our budget. Eventually we found this ½ acre plot at Daisy Farm and offered the asking price, despite it being 2½ times our budget.
It was just what we needed in every other way. That is to say, a south facing plot well above flood level, with planning permission, in the area we were looking at. It has since been a battle getting planning permission to build an environmentally sustainable house instead of the 19th Century pastiche requred by Sedgemoor Council. Eventually we won and now we are getting the technical plans draw up. The time lag has not been wasted, though. We have attended several eco seminars and green events, been able to do lots of research on the products available and had time to clear the site. We have also attended a building with lime day, and we are going to do a clay plastering course at CAT, Macynlleth in September.