Hey thanks, I'll look forward to reading this, although I'll save it for if and when I emigrate out of the UK... the planning laws here are so restrictive and land so expensive, building anything is just something I can't face!
Still, there are always other more enlightened countries.
thank you.. you know it really can be done in the UK, although it is a challenge for sure.. Earthship Brighton paved the way, and more recently i helped with Earthship Sheppey which also got full planning approval and even a negative carbon footprint!
https://www.facebook.com/GroundhouseShepey1/
You know I was actually going to go and help out with that Sheppey build, I'm from Kent, but i think their weekends just didn't match up with my free ones. It's impressive, but it's that larger and more expensive build from scratch that the planners would approve... my style would be to do a more 'Tony Wrench' model... there is almost zero chance of that. The Brighton Earthship, i did a permaculture course there! Not residential, so it's different. I know of another eco build in Forest Row attached to a Community Farm that the planners recently made the builders take down. They wanted to apply for retrospective residency status - refused!
The exception of course is Lammas in Pembrokeshire, but then you have to be running a land based business... whereas i just want to live in an eco dwelling and do my business online!
You're right it is possible, but on a cost-benefit analysis for me personally it's just something I've had to abandon!
I still love eco houses like yours though!
sounds like you did some research! Just so you know Earthship Brighton did satisfy domestic building regs even though the land didnt allow for it to bee residential.
anywhow, i did it in India for total peace and didnt have to explain a damn thing to anyone! ;-)
Good for you! Do you explain in the book the whole process of purchasing land in India, that is something that would really interest me!
ahh interesting question.. no i didnt discuss that at all! The bottom line is that if you are not indian you cannot buy land, end of! You need to partner with an indian and have a solid contract.. and even then it can go wrong.
I have not even a contract, but i do have a lifetime lease based on trust.. I have no security here and own nothing legally.. but that was the risk i was prepared to take to be able to do this here, and in the way that I wanted to.
OK thanks for letting me know! I have the feeling you'll be just fine!