This page will be updated on a (reasonably) regular basis with news of current projects, trials and tribulations. Read on...
New house at The Parsonage 1st February 2012

On a cheerier note though, we've just submitted a planning application for a sustainable new house on a rather spectacular site in Knaresborough overlooking the river and railway viaduct. The aim is to get the house close to Passivhaus standard and to incorporate photovoltaics on the south-facing roof - our first venture into this technology. Council officers have been positive about the proposals, but it'll doubtless be just the start of a long road which will include planning committee.
Failed Youth Cafe proposals 31st January 2012

Thought I'd let 2012 bed in a bit before doing a bit of a catch-up. First some bad news:- the proposed York Youth Cafe project has fallen through - at least as far as the former "Borders" is concerned. A combination of impatience by the building owner, issues with Listed Building works, and uncertainty about funding resulted in the offer of the lease being withdrawn. Members of York Youth Council gave their views on the way forward and are keen to get some sort of socal facility up and running - even if it's just a start. More news to follow, hopefully...
  5th November 2011

Rather the opposite yesterday - an example of dodgy technology. Sat in the bar at City Screen inbetween a visit to the self-build show at Harrogate and seeing George Clooney's The Ides of March, doing end-of-week emails on the laptop, when my mobile announces it's not sending the last three messages because I'm out of credit. Whip out credit card, phone "top up" number. "Key 1 to top up using a credit or debit card". Poke. "Key one if you're topping up the phone you're using". Poke. "Do you wish to use your nominated credit or debit card? You can simply say yes or no". At this point the background noice of music and shouted conversation reaches a crescendo. "YES". "Do you wish to use...." "YES!!" Pause. "Do you wish...." "****ING YES!!" ...Pause... "You seem to be expreriencing problems using this service - please try later..."

Five minutes later the laptop was switched off, the coffee drunk, and the drizzle seeping down my neck as I stood outside and again dialled the "top up" number. For any of you that haven't yet seen the wonderful Scottish voice-activated lift sketch, I recommend it...
Example of block model of house 30th October 2011

A good example of The Joys Of Vectorworks today. I visited a potential project on Friday - a sizeable extension to the side of a mid-1900's semi. I wanted to quickly illustrate the massing of the suggested arrangement. Clock started; 30secs had Vectorworks open, 2mins had the storey heights set and 3mins had the existing walls in place with a further minute for the hipped roof. By T+5mins the extension walls were there and another minute sorted the two extension roofs. By seven minutes gone it was exported into Artlantis, which had it opened and sunlit within a minute. By the time I stopped the clock at ten minutes I'd got four simple block snapshots (one at the left) showing - minus the windows - how it would all sit. How I love good technology!
  19th October 2011

Off down to Daventry next week for a meeting about linking construction trainees with opportunities for site experience. A classic train'n'bike journey - about four miles from Long Buckby station to the meeting venue at Daventry's rather wonderful iCon building. Checked the Network Rail website for times and ticket prices - £139.00, gulp!

So, a quick visit to the advanced bookings office at York station. "I'll see what I can do", says the lad behind the counter. Two or three minutes later:- "£63.10". I now have a return from York to Sheffield, a return from Sheffield to Derby, a return from Derby to Birmingham, and a return from Birmingham to Long Buckby.

Is this any way to run a rail network? I recently found myself on the website of the excellent Steve Bell, creator of the Guardian's "If..." cartoon strip and many of their political cartoons. The wonderful animated cartoon on the Major Train Disaster (shot with his ten-year-old son) sums it up nicely - usual "watershed" warnings apply regarding language etc.
Myplace consultation pic 12th October 2011

Back in the heady days of government and Lottery funding, we worked for a while on proposals for a bid for funding through the Myplace programme - major new facilities for young people. We did a lot of work on involving young people in York in the process of design - thinking about what facilities they needed, what spaces - and how it should all look and feel.

Sadly, the Myplace goalposts were moved and York ceased to be eligible to bid. But thankfully..
Youth Cafe Section pic ...the council held its nerve and continued the search for vacant premises that could provide at least the most important of the functions identified by young people during the Myplace consultation.

This has eventually led to York Young People's Trust taking on the former chapel which houses the cafe to the rear of Borders for many years. All being well, this will soon come back to life as a cafe, meeting place and multi-purpose space for young people and agencies which provide services for them. The main space will allow for gigs and parties along with being suitable for informal study, Duke of Edinburgh's Award activities and more besides. The project has planning permission and work is due to start on site within the next couple of months.