GJHem

We're in the Haute Vienne about 1km south of Saint Mathieu and converting some space above the lounge that has been built into the barn that will include a bedroom + en-suite plus another family bathroom. There's no change to the roof line or height.

All going well, the builder looks like he is making an excellent job as is the electrician.

However, there's always an "however", we've applied for planning permission to install two velux windows (one each side of the roof) and our builder is negotiating with the marie on our behalf. Looks like everything was going smoothly until the requirement for aerial photographs were required. Apparently, this is a requirement that's recently been issued by the authorities in Limoges.

We're hoping an image from Google Earth will suffice. If not we don't want to go to the expense of having to hire a helicopter and photographer and the other alternative of having a photographer bounce up and down on a trampoline seems an unlikely option.

Anybody else had a similar experience and managed to find a solution?

ChissayLuke

Would a picture taken from a cherry-picker be high enough?
If it would have access space, of course!

GJHem

ChissayLuke.

That's a good suggestion however, there's access from the road in the front of the house but not from the rear. It's not clear whether the aerial photo should be of the roof of just our house or also including our immediate neighbour's houses as well. This needs clarification.

For the record no-one it doesn't look as though anybody will be able to see in and nobody will be able to peer into the neighbours house opposite. There's no houses behind our house so it's just the one at the front that I guess is causing the issue.

ChissayLuke

Indeed, sounds like clarification required as to what the problem is, and what pictures you will need to resolve it.
It should be possible to get a cherry-picker that will reach over your house if this is required, or from the side - still cheaper than a helicopter!

Ka Ora!

Use the trial of Google Earth Professional this will enable you to get higher resolution photos from it.

bigglesworth

Have you asked the Mairie yourself what they actually need? We are just over from you in the Charente and we have put in four Veluxes.
We were told by our "architect" how complicated all these permissions were, and he wanted a substantial sum to file them all.
In the event I popped down to the Mairie, gave a load of chat, asked advice etc. I then got a large step ladder, took pictures of the roof and photoshopped veluxes in. (I am absolutely cr*p with anything technical so this must be childs-play for anyone else).
Popped back to the Mairie and two weeks later got the all clear.
In my experience a little bit of attempted French goes a very long way. As Mme la Maire said to me - "we are not in Paris you know!"

jonkemp

I'm not sure about France, but in the UK, there are companies that specialise in this. Basically the camera is 'stuck' on a very long pole, but they can get to quite a height

GJHem

Wow.

Thanks for all your thoughts, comments and suggestions. Hugely appreciated. We, that is the builder (who lives bang opposite our house and whose cats we're feeding whilst he's away for a week) and my wife and I are going to see the Marie next week. Hopefully, we should get some clarification on precisely what is meant by "aerial photograph".

We haven't met the Marie yet so this could be an interesting experience.

ChissayLuke

Break a leg!

jonkemp

We haven't met the Marie yet so this could be an interesting experience.


When we bought our house I wrote a letter to our Marie introducing ourselves and hoping that we could meet one day. Thought it better to get in there quick!