motorbird83

It wasn't too bad. We did an extension as part of a bigger renovation. Budget circa 1,500 psm for the main building work. The cost of flooring, the new kitchen, sky lights, bifolding doors, lighting fixtures, underfloor heating (if you want it) come on top of this as do all your design fees (architect, planning/ certificate of lawfulness, building control, measurement survey, engineering drawings, Thames Water build over agreement if needed). A lot of people also end up needing to move their boiler and decide to install a downstairs loo if they don't already have one. A typical extension like this with mid-range everything is about 55-65k. It can vary widely though depending on your spec, how deep your foundations need to be, if you need any levelling work, etc etc. Good luck, the space you create is well worth the hassle. Main thing is to spend a lot of time planning and budgeting before you start. Changing your mind mid-way is costly and the entire thing is a lot less stressful if you've made most of your decisions regarding fixtures etc ahead of time. A good builder is usually booked a least 3 months in advance and typically the summer is the best time to do the work as you are less likely to experience weather delays and its easier to get by without a kitchen / have a hole at the back of your house!

0/10 indeed! Most people support a couple of charities that mean something special to them and then they support their friends and family when they try to raise money for their own causes through races or whatever. To say that people don?t really care because they haven?t historically supported every worthy cause that exists in the world is utter tosh. Also, I haven?t seen a single video where ALS wasn?t prominently mentioned. To tarnish the entire thing because YOUR Facebook friends might be knobs is a bit daft. Particularly given how much money its raised. Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > They're mostly attention seeking f*%#$ who want to > be on social media showing off. It's easy to > donate to charity if you really cared, but you > don't do you? You people just want to get as many > "likes" and "comments" because you're insecure and > lack personality. How about saving some water and > running a marathon for charity. Now that does take > blood sweat and tears and doesn't mean thousands > of gallons of water are being wasted when people > are dying in drought ridden parts of our planet. > > Louisa.

I would also like to recommend Patryk who initially did a great job for us in our garden and has subsequently done other small jobs around the house. His attention to detail is terrific and his prices are really reasonable. He also, has great ideas and is very creative.

Very lovely post! I can't really see what the fuss is about. The membership scheme is good value and it comes with a nice extra regarding the art. I think Picture House did a nice job of generating business while doing something a bit different to make it interesting. northlondoner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > yeknomyeknom Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > If you intend to frequent the cinema it was a > > great deal. Also able to be used at their > other > > cinemas until ours opened. Also it isn't > > necessarily about vanity for all. I bought a > > membership for my little boy so he can see his > > name up on the screen when he's a bit older. We > > love films and I think it would be exciting for > > him. I hope it will also show him we are a > > community and he is an established part of that. > > > Maybe if he gets older and moves away he will > > always feel his roots in ED where he was born > and > > his name up in artwork in a community > institution > > compounds this. Things can just be done > because > > it's fun, positive and exciting. > > > Lovely post. Hope you both enjoy it!

Anyone who would recognise this would have been there. I can't see how this exposes the person anymore that was already the case. That someone is showing concern might bring home to the person how serious an issue this is and push them to get the help they need.

Agree-- I would really encourage you to consider this as breast milk's impact on premature babies is much more significant than healthy full-term babies :) Jellybeanz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > King's always need milk for premature babies and > other vulnerable babies :) worthwhile cause and > lot less hassle than couriering!!

It?s expensive. A good rule of thumb is 1,500 psm so for an extension this size the pure construction costs would be 45k excluding VAT. Other things that are probably included in your quote: 1. Fees: architect fees for planning drawings, measurement surveys, engineer drawings, building control plans and fees etc will be between 5k and 10k (depending if you use a fully qualified architect or if you get the builder to use his in house design team). 2. New windows and doors: if you want velux windows, and basic bifold doors add around another 4-5k for that 3. The quote might also include some of the new electrical fittings (LV spot lights, facings for electrical sockets and switches, etc). Depending on what they are assuming, add another 2k 4. Do you need to move your boiler? Did you say you want to install a loo under the stairs? And 1k for moving the boiler (more if you need to replace it) and 2k for the under stairs loo Other costs not included in a typical quote for a builder but should be part of you budget is; 1. Cost of new flooring throughout (not just the new space but integrating it with the old). The installation costs should be in the quote but not supplying the floor. Without know the final size of your rear room post extension its hard to guess what this will be but assume a minimum of 30 psm 2. Do you want underfloor heating? For an extension that size, that will be an addition 2k at least for a water-fed system and will be on top of the basic spec that 1,500psm mentioned above 3. The cost of any fancy lights you want (under cabinet lighting, over counter lighting etc) 4. The cost of a new kitchen (assuming you are getting a new kitchen). Total budget for all the extras, 20k would be pretty middle of the road spec. So I?d budget a minimum all in of 85k for something that large. That?s assuming no new manhole needs to be done with Thameswater, and no garden work (your garden will be ruined post-extension).

Miacis-- are you talking about their attainment levels when they were admitted to the school or once the started sitting GCSEs / A-levels? Obviously, looking at attainment levels once the school has started educating the children wouldn't indicate anything about the admission policy but rather would reflect how well the school is educating its pupils. Do you have any links?

Old Villa

I am in private sector and it's as srisky says. You have to repay a portion if you don't come back

Intex, they have proposed distance as the crow flies. As most schools operate banding combined with distance, it's better that any new school does the same otherwise the banding doesn't work as effectively. I believe DofE have specific guidance / recommendation on this

I liked Lucas and it seemed to be doing very well. Sounds like it's more a personal decision of the business owner. It's a shame as it's my favourite place for breakfast

Do not use this tradesman. I am in the process of taking him to court due to his failure to do work I needed to code. Terrible customer service and very dishonest.

The plans look great. What will be the last screening time on the weekends and weekdays out of curiosity? I imagine the cinema will really bring additional business to the various restaurants etc in the area. Regarding the LLW - please stop hijacking every thread about the cinema to talk about this. As others have side it would be totally hypocritical and unfair to single out this specific business for criticism / boycott when virtually no London businesses currently pay the LLW.

That sounds great!

Agree with Ianr

I should say that I think all the ED primaries are good, particularly Bessemer. I just wanted to be near the park, transport and any if the good primary schools. To get the park and transport, the only primaries possible are Goodrich and Heber which are both good but not necessarily any better than others. If you aren't interested in being close to Dulwich park (I run most mornings there) then I would not make being close to Heber a specific priority at all as long as you are near a primary school.

I live 10 min to Dulwich Park and 10 min to the station and am in catchment (100m) of Heber- had all your same priorities! We would probably just get in to Goodrich and for secondary we are within a mile walking of the Charter so would stand a reasonable chance of getting in there too. I am on Pellatt rd and it's much closer to the station than it seems if you use Melbourne grove as a short cut. I think Pellatt and the surrounding roads are close to everything: the gym, NorthX rd market, the high street, both Dulwich and Peckam Rye parks, Dulwich Village and the new Picture House cinema. The big downside is virtually all of the houses In my and the surrounding streets have tiny gardens. It was a compromise we decided we could live with for the schools, park, high street and transport links. If you have to have a decent garden a handful on Landcroft rd do but only one came up during our one year search and we were massively outbid. Good luck! ETA: using crystal palace rd to get to the park is usually faster from my bit of ED

paddykelly Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- I understand that as more families have moved in to > this particular neighbourhood there is obviously > more pressure on places. It does seem however > that this could have been predicated and it seems > to reflect a bigger failing within the education > policy. Both a national level, especially with > the free schools and how few places are being > taken up for those by (obviously) sceptical > parents, as well as at the local level. The > system from my point of view does not seem to work > very well. > > I'm curious how other parents will be voting in > the local elections with this in mind? There does > seem to be a lot of finger pointing amongst > politicians but surely all the main political > parties have now had a chance to make a difference > and the education system still seems to be a mess Didn't someone already confirm that all the 60 Harris free school places have been taken and they are now operating a waiting list? I am really sorry for the parents that didn't get any of their choices but with 80 percent of parents getting their FIRST coice and 96 percent getting one of their top 6 it's a bit harsh to suggest the system if failing and their is no choice. Via the expansion of Ivedale being led by the council, the new Harris free school primary in ED organised by James B and the council working with Dulwich Hamlet to open a new primary in Peckham I think all our local councillors are very proactive and doing a great job! Renta and James both deserve a lot of praise in my book!

Please avoid this tradesman. The doors Joe Hickey made for us look great but unfortunately we are likely going to have to take him to court. We ordered fire doors from him along with another set of doors totalling 3k. It has been more than 7 weeks since they were installed and he still hasn't provided the fire rating certificate required by building control. We have spoken to the manufacturer of the intumescent paint he says he used and a certificate is typically issued within 5 days. Foolishly we trusted him and paid him in full before the certificate was provided... While trying to get clarification on what was going on we had multiple unreturned phone calls, texts and emails. Yesterday, when I informed we would be taking action, I finally got a response which was a string of bizarre texts. The doors themselves are beautiful but not fit for purpose without the certification and Joe's communication and customer service is the worst I have had to deal with since the doors were installed.

I'm curious what are the most significant factors preventing the supply of new homes in London? Supply for sale of existing stock is reducing for demographic reasons- people living longer, less people wanting to move out of London when they have kids etc which means the number of homes for sale is quite low despite the uptick in demand. In these circumstances one would anticipate house building to increase but London's house building isn't keeping a pace with population growth in the city. For those more familiar with the issues, what specifically in planning law, land distribution, funding, etc is causing this situation?

DaveR Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BTW, has anybody actually paid ?1 million yet for > a 'normal' ED house? Yep: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=42438371&sale=50402987&country=england http://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=39909598&sale=50172515&country=england This last one is also pretty close and given these properties would have gone under offer back in late summer, I imagine many extended 4-bed terraces could now fetch ?1m http://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=40926643&sale=50668643&country=england

They were only on a temp lease. The owner of the shop is looking to redevelop the site I think.

This is great news!

Buy the flat as it sounds like it will give you everything you need. Flat conversions often aren't great but large flats are wonderful. I agree with PeckhamRye. A house isn't the be all and end all. I know lots of people who happily choose to live in large flats rather than houses. Its quite normal really in most big cities.