The Blog
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Foraging with Taste the Wild [Read me!]
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New Years Eve [Read me!]
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Christmas Craft Weekend [Read me!]
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Christmas is coming… [Read me!]
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Lewis Todhunter Gig 16th Nov 2012 [Read me!]
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Cakes made to order! [Read me!]
Keep up to date with Bivouac life with our blog and join the Friends of Bivouac for our regular newsletters.
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We got it!
Sam Hardwick posted this on 30th Mar 2011
Yesterday the planning committee at Harrogate Borough Council voted unanimously in favour of the scheme.
The application was presented and discussed at the planning committee meeting yesterday afternoon in an impressive room with dark wood and leather seating in the middle of the council offices in Harrogate. After considered and detailed discussion the committee voted unanimously in favour. This is a real encouragement to the scheme! We have found many people in favour of the scheme including the Nidderdale AONB, Yorkshire Forward and Welcome to Yorkshire (www.yorkshire.com). Indeed most people that hear of the vision find it exciting. It is really encouraging to hear that the ultimate decision makers are in favour of the scheme… All of them! We still have a long way to go, but this is a significant piece of the jigsaw now in place.
Please join us in this journey!
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Did someone say caravans?
Sam Hardwick posted this on 28th Mar 2011
It seems that many have interpreted Fridays Gazette article announcing “Holiday park set to be approved” to mean Caravans! ... oh dear. We’d have to camouflage them… like this budding Ray Mears…
The phrase “Holiday Park” isn’t particularly helpful when applied to the vision we have for this site! If only these reporters would get in touch! All of our accommodation is handmade and sustainable… I’m hesitant to call them ‘eco lodges’ and ‘eco tents’... but they are wonderfully environmentally sound, built using natural materials, many of which will travel less than 30 miles to be with us. We don’t do plastic nor cheap… we’re about high quality craftsmanship with the highest environmental conscience. Caravans indeed.
Categories: ArchitectureDesignYorkshire
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Another Little Update on the Planning Application
Sam Hardwick posted this on 28th Sep 2010
So… we were expecting a decision today on the planning application for The Bivouac Swinton; but we have decided to delay the decision. It’s a shame as I feel like I have been working through loads of design detail for a very long time… BUT I realise that it’s so important to get this stuff right. So we shall press on.
So, we have encountered a few challenges. Quick headlines…
The ecologists felt that we hadn’t adequately surveyed the site for bats. We have therefore done another bat survey and submitted the results for their consideration. We’ve also given some extra thought to this special location… we are alongside a special moorland site which is home to some very special species of birds. – we’ve added a few details to make sure the birds are disturbed as little as possible.
The transport guys have some concerns. We have had a transport engineer get into the numbers, do some maths and look at the best ways that we can keep traffic to a minimum. We’re passionate about sustainability so it’s been great fun looking for ways to keep cars off the road and encourage guests to make responsible decisions. I’m hoping many guests bring their walking boots and mountain bikes!
The Landscape Architect has asked for a bit more info too so we’re pulling that together.
If anyone has ever got any questions PLEASE feel free to get in touch. – you’d be very welcome to the site to discuss plans. I have seen that a few people have written to the council with concerns where one or two their concerns are incorrect or misinformed. I’m saddened to see that people carry concerns about the project which are, in some cases, based on an inaccurate interpretation of the scheme.Call anytime. 01765 535020
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Planning update
Sam Hardwick posted this on 06th Sep 2010
Hi folks, just a quick update on the planning application for The Bivouac Swinton.
We’ve been working on the details of this project for such a long time that we hopefully had most angles covered… but a couple of consultees have raised some concerns. If you’re not familiar with how the planning system works then here’s the basics… we submit a planning application with loads of separate reports about all the details of our proposal. Those separate reports get duplicated and sent to all sorts of offices and experienced professionals who then comment on the overall proposals as well as considerations specific to their particular field of expertise. These different offices and professionals are referred to as ‘consultees’.
Two consultees have raised concerns. We’re now talking to those consultees to understand their concerns more fully and we are looking for ways to amend our plans to take into account the concerns raised. We’ve been given a bit more time to do this, so a planning decision is now likely to be at the end of September.
Thanks to everyone for your support and interest. Feel free to get in touch anytime.
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The Bivouac Swinton
Sam Hardwick posted this on 12th Aug 2010
We’re now well underway with the planning process for The Bivouac Swinton.
We’ve recently attended the parish council meeting and done a further presentation in the village hall. It was a lovely evening with a good turnout and a great chance to answer questions, listen to concerns and get to know those in the area. Ahead of these meetings we circulated a summary document which gives an outline of the plans and shows some maps of the site. Do feel free to download this summary from the link below.
Feel free to get in touch anytime… we love hearing from people and would be happy to talk anything through.
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Valid Planning Application – THANK YOU
Sam Hardwick posted this on 25th Jul 2010
The planning application for The Bivouac Swinton is now valid and being assessed. Wow, it has taken the combined efforts of dozens of people and I want to say a massive THANK YOU to them all.
So who are they?
Planning Consultants
AAH Planning
www.aahplanning.comLandscape Architects
Smeeden Foreman
www.smeedenforeman.co.ukBuildings Architects
Native
www.nativearchitecture.co.ukLand Surveyors
CSL Surveys
www.cslsurveys.co.ukEcologists
MAB Environment & Ecology
www.mab.uk.comFlood Risk Engineers
Peters Associates
www.petersassociates.netLand & Geological Engineers
Dunelm Geotechnical & Environmental
www.dunelm.co.ukBREEAM Assessors
Goring Berry
www.goringberry.co.uk
Other Valuable Contributors:
Rudi Meseg
Charlie Lusty
Sally Duguid
Massive thank you to all those that have contributed; I would have no hesitation in recommending all of the above… who’s contributions to the project have been really excellent.I also want to say an enormous WELL DONE to The Bivouac Team.
More information on the project to follow shortly!
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Busy Planning
Sam Hardwick posted this on 12th Apr 2010
We’re in a funny old season with The Bivouac at the minute… we’re all working our socks off doing long days and dealing with dozens of people; we’re moving towards planning permission for the site and all of the intricate detail that goes with that.
I’m sorry I’ve been off the blog for a while… it’s a product of being buried in the planning detail; this means that most of what I have been doing isn’t really that exciting as well as not having had loads of time to day dream about the other stuff… the exciting stuff. But, it all seems to be coming together. Let’s hope we’re on target for our submission date.
I’m delighted the sun has come out too.
Better crack on.
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Cast Iron
David Sorley posted this on 16th Feb 2010
I’ve been busy looking into signage for our first Bivouac site
I’ve been busy looking into signage for our first Bivouac site and came across these amazing, untreated cast iron signs at the Holbeck Urban Village Leeds.
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