Complexity of self build and existing dwelling

[jc49]

Dear All

I am just about to complete the purchase of a bungalow with 10 acres some of which is a derelict garden nursery .

The bungalow hasn't been lived in for more than 10 years ( but may struggle to prove this as the previous owner has died although helpfully got delisting for council tax >2 years ago) and requires complete modernisation as it has no heating cooking wiring or bathroom . The longer term plan is to build a new house and I had hoped to :

1 Make the bungalow habitable
2 Move in and get ( hopefully) planning for a new large house
3 Keep the bungalow as an annexe
4 Claim a DIY VAT reclaim

I have checked with HMRC and it seems that I have 3 options

1 Prove 10 years non occupancy and do a rebuild with the house added on to the bungalow making the project a complete conversion/ new build and do a DIY claim . I would need to get planning for the whole scheme before work starts .
2 Prove 2 years non occupancy which I have already and get contractors to bill at 5% so similar to above would need to get planning for the whole scheme before work starts.
3- Demolish bungalow then do a new build once planning granted

As I had hoped to avoid living in a caravan and thought I could do up the bungalow ( not bothered about VAT claim for this ) get planning permission for the new house and build it whilst living in the bungalow and ideally keep but could face demolition as it is not pretty . The question is can any one see a solution whereby I can live in the bungalow whilst doing the new build and ideally keep it afterwards which does't mean I have to live in a caravan whilst i get the planning permission .

Rather frustratingly my main driver to get on site ASAP is security as I know things will get stolen if there isn't someone living on site

Advice appreciated

[aalindo]

JC,

Not sure if this will be any help (and I am by no means an expert) but it would probably be worth checking your local council's planning policy with regards to replacement dwellings. It may be that this policy dictates what you have to do. Speaking from my experience only, when I submitted my planning for a re-build, it was policy that the old house must be demolished before we occupied the new house.

For us this condition wasn't as issue as we opted for the caravan as we are building on the same footprint. It's not so bad!