In the Waiting Line

(Zero Seven, 2006)

Still there? I’d forgive you for tuning out; this has not exactly been compulsive viewing recently. We have however been inching forwards. Nothing radical, rather things gradually coming together.

First and foremost, we have now agreed a plan with the architects. Not The Plan of what the house will become - that’s still work in progress. But we do now know what timeframe we are all aiming for. Of course, dependent on any number of surprise delays (which I will do my damndest to prevent). All going to plan, it will be:

• 20 December 2010: New version of the house plans & drawings



• February 2011: Submission of planning application



• April 2011: Selecting contractors



• August 2011: Works start



• March 2012: Works completed
  

There are also various sub-stages before these can happen. Little administrative tests of our mettle, like obtaining a number of vital pieces of paper from people like “Monsieur le Receveur de l'Enregistrement” and the “Direction régional du cadastre mutations et expertises”. Belgian administration: you will not defeat us so easily. Formal requests to these dark and dusty corners of Belgian administrania have duly been sent off, in three languages in duplicate by owl, and we now await their replies.


Second, after all these months of mulling, we now have a pretty good idea of what we want to do in terms of renovations. So no more bright ideas from anyone else at this stage, thanks. More on that in due course when we talk about The Plans...

Third, we have also decided what we are going to do in terms of energy efficiency. Eh? Yes, for those of you still shivering in the dark ages with single glazing and electric heaters, it’s an important consideration that should be factored in at the beginning of any renovation or building work. Not least because the Brussels region provides quite a big financial incentive for your renovation to meet certain criteria. So ours will be a “low energy” house, consuming less than 60 kWh/m²/ year. Which means an extra subsidy of potentially up to €20.000. How will we manage that without losing the house’s 1898 charm? Aha, you’ll have to wait and see…