How do I bathroom / kitchen / extension? etc.

First time interacting with council planning officers. Very quickly making their way into the "estate agent" bucket for the level of incompetency being shown.

Only time I got involved in them was when I objected to a planning application for the property that was next door (to my previous home).
It was 2 detached houses that had been bought by a developer and they were planning on building 15 flats and 3 houses on the same plot. The initial application broke so many of the councils own rules (3 stories replacing a 2 story, the 3 story block of flats was directly up against my fence line completely blocking my light etc). The planning officers ignored almost all of the complaints, but did force some minor concessions. Planning was approved on the second go, but then the planning officers tried to make some new changes, things they didn't raise on the first application, but appeals can't hear new things so the whole shitty thing got approved. They didn't even know their own rules.

They claimed to have sent a validation letter for our application back in December. They didn't, or it got lost. Why they would send a physical letter when everything else is online is beyond me. They were supposed to come out for a site visit (not even sure why when the work is hilariously minimal) before Christmas but didn't show. Officer later said she was off sick. Then went on a long period of regular leave, not sick leave. Then went on sick immediately following her regular leave. Was supposed to come last Thursday, no show. Rescheduled for this morning, emailed at 10:30 saying she was feeling unwell so will be out in the afternoon. I replied saying "by all means, but let me know when as I bumped a lot of meetings from the morning to the afternoon". She then immediately tried to recall her original email. Recall, an external email, that I had already replied to.

Also, the decision date was and of Jan.

And they've flaked for today too

Promised me Thursday or Friday. Currently taking bets on chance of attendance this week.

Odds on they're away on annual leave for 2weeks from Wednesday.

I had 5 years of pain dealing with planning officers. Moved into a very poorly maintained listed place and trying to do anything meaningful was a pain in the arse. I found that trying to speak to the planning officer on the phone, getting them onside was half the battle then dealing with their endless annual leave (same can be said for building control officers).

Pebbledash removal: we've received a couple of 'don't want to do the job' kinds of quotes for our encrusted house.

Anyone got recommendations, preferably around East London? We already have scaffolding up, for what it's worth...

Not used them myself but I've seen a lot of local recommendations for
https://mahonbrickwork.co.uk/

rate/slate my kitchen

The island worktop will actually be a green slate rather than black but the planner tool can't show that. The dishwasher is under the sink. What do folk think, otherwise?

Also - ignore the height difference between oven stack and wall cabs - haven't figure out how to fix that yet.

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dishwasher is under the sink.

There's room for that?

think so?

edit: should have said adjacent, rather than directly under as I realise you were meaning with the sink gubbins blocking the dishwasher rather than the island

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Looking good.
Personally id have the ovens/grill/microwave closer to your hob. So either swap the fridge with the oven or swap the hob and sink. I like to be able to transfer things quickly from the hob to the oven/grill

Typically people like to have a view from the sink, but perhaps that's a little 'old school' now due to dishwashers, etc.

I'd be keen to reduce the visual impact/importance of the extractor fan, if possible?

Fridge to sink journey feels a little high-effort currently? Where's your main prep area going to be?

Get one of those angle hoods so it's not in your face.

What tool is this please?

@JonoMarshall aye I do like a sink view but not feasible here unless I plumb in island, which I'm not keen to do. Fair point by you and @skinny on the extractor. I might see if I can push for a downdraft one instead.

Fridge to sink maybe high effort. Island will be main prep area so it feels like it ties together the hob, the sink, the fridge and the oven?

@stevo_com - DIYkitchens.com

Im going to change ours to one when I do the kitchen, I always bang my head on it and can't see what I'm cooking and I'm looking down onto it, not the hobs.

I'd also second job and oven near, so you're cooking in one location

Make sure you've plugs and good lighting on the island so you can prep there.

cheers. Lighting will need some thought for sure. I will probably have spotlights underneath the cabinets above the sink and might run a wooden floating shelf along the wall above the hob and have spotlights under there too.

Undecided on what the ceiling light will look like, though.

Typically people like to have a view from the sink, but perhaps that's a little 'old school' now due to dishwashers, etc.

I don't have a view from my sink and have never thought about that until now. As you say, I don't spend that much time there now.

Re extractor fans. If you're not integrating it with cupboards or units you can mount them much higher if you want.

For our extension we asked the architect to make the window in the living area (as opposed to dining area) a bit larger (see below).

We didn't want to go full window seat style, and we also didn't want bifold doors the whole way across. The architect was a bit concerned that windows in those sorts of living areas can make furniture choice and arrangement a bit more difficult.

What does the forum hive mind think about the ideas below?

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Nice, any chance in getting a high horizontal window in the wall next to the gate? This kind of thing:

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Sorry, but I’m not struck by the small window on the back. Having that thick bit of wall would bug me. And to mind mind looks like you’ve changed your mind about having the utility at the back and removed an internal wall. I’d centre the doors and call it done.