17/11/2023
The challenges in sustainable building
Living or vacationing deep into the wilderness in woodland areas is an idyllic dream for some. And whilst it is idyllic, as it offers to experience the environment’s beauty daily, building in woodland areas does come with its own set of strict rules and requirements.
With the environment in mind, governments, including the UK’s, have taken the necessary precautions to eliminate illegal buildings. Building companies, such as Oasis Habitats, need to get all mandatory permissions before any design and build processes begin.
Residential use
Building a dwelling in a wood area requires planning permission. However, such authorization is not easily granted by the UK’s administration. Currently, the planning system is in control of both the er****on of buildings and any changes in the use of land.
Permissions for non-commercial dwellings in the UK’s woodlands are extremely rare. In the few successful cases where permissions have been granted, it has been where the property was associated with forestry activities, and where the workers or worker could prove the necessity for them, or they, to have direct onsite housing in order to operate the carryout the associated business needs.
Commercial use
Permissions for commercial use on the other hand, such as hospitality and leisure structures are just a tad easier to attain. Forestry permitted development rights are granted to meet the needs of the forestry industry rather than diversify the business area. Committed to encouraging woodland-based enterprises, however, the government sees commercial recreation as fit to cater for relatively large numbers of people that could otherwise be intrusive to the countryside.
Steps in the process of the planning application
Regardless of the location in the UK’s countryside, one would want to build, local planning authorities insist on completing numerous surveys before permissions are finally granted. The planning system’s most common requests are:
Ecology reports – With the sole purpose of protecting the environment, such reports assess the risk of potential building and support the preservation of local ecosystems.
Tree reports – Protection of individual trees or whole forests is granted thanks to the Tree Preservation Orders.
Topographic land survey – Equipped teams of surveyors visit the site to measure the land one point at a time.
Endangered species survey – These are required where rare species such as animals and flora have been reported in the local vicinity.
Access to utility vs. off-grid alternatives
While tempting, off-grid living could be difficult for some, especially those who don’t have the proper alternatives to common utilities. Being part of Oasis Habitats’ most popular services, off-grid structures can and do offer the same amenities as the traditional home builds.
With the lifestyle becoming more and more attractive to people in the urban areas, Oasis Habitats’ team decided to share its ideas on the off-grid alternatives that are worthy of your attention:
Sewer Services – Unlike traditional builds, off-grid structures have no connection to the local sewage. Traditionally septic tanks and composting off-grid toilets are the go-to choices for the majority of homesteaders.
Electricity – Sustainability doesn’t have to come with huge sacrifices. On the contrary, thanks to today’s technology, off-grid structures can easily self-generate their own energy. With numerous opportunities in this regard, wind, water, and solar-generated energy are still the leading choices.
Heating sources – Being one of the most efficient alternatives on the market, air and ground source heat pumps are a hit in the off-grid communities.
Oasis Habitats' contribution
With our mission to always do what’s in the environment’s best interest, Oasis Habitats never ceases to deliver sustainable off-grid buildings that offer the comfort and amenities of traditional ones. Specialising in exclusive bespoke design and architecture, Oasis Habitats’ helps people get the high-quality constructions of their dreams.
And although sustainable building comes with a variety of challenges – permissions, reports, surveys, location difficulties, etc. – thanks to our devotion and vision for the future, Oasis Habitats overcomes them to deliver to the utmost quality.
Oasis Habitats is a design and build company specialising in sustainable resorts & nature hospitality
