EsuriJohn

I do not think this part of the CDL is as cheap for quality construction as people may think. You also have to take into consideration all the little costs that you have not been told about or even knew existed.

182 sq m approved build on a very steeply sloping site is not cheap but at a QS estimate over €200k that means a Building Licence fee from the Ayuntamiento of €11,000 add to that Technical Architects fees the H&S cert fees and so on it all adds up.

I do not see build costs declining dramatically if you want quality. The thousands of building workers put on the dole by the current slump are probably mostly from Eastern Europe or North Africa and a lot will just return home.The small Spanish builder employs mainly Spanish labour and will endeavor to keep them. First to go will be unskilled immigrant labour.

I think (and you are) one of the lucky or wise ones who bought a plot which is by and large level and at the same level as the back of footpath, you don't put in basements or Torreon's and not too much in the way of colonnades, porches or hard landscaping (which all feed into the buiding licence fee) you should get away with €12/1500 sq m.

MEL & JOHN

Thanks to all for pm's and thread posts in response to my the lock question...........(note for Graham and Sandra - only 5 more sleeps !! )

Mel x

GerryW

Thx John. My plot is not as steep as yours - but it still slopes quite a bit front to back and side to side! We still want to put in a basement for several reasons. I'll certainly keep an eye on costs.

rogerbilko

Have just returned from our 2 weeks at CE, I don't know what it is about the place but we simply love it. We have a town house which is now our home, ok, we had to upgrade the kitchen, and some work was needed to bring the general finish up to scratch, but all in all, we are delighted with what we have bought in to. I have travelled all over the world, but CE and Ayamonte is where I have never experienced this level of feeling of belonging before. My folks travelled over from Malaga to see us and noted how much more comfortable they felt in the heat tempered by the breeze. They stayed at the Riu and thought it was one of the best Hotels they have ever stayed at, and great value for money.
There are troubles on site at the moment and we have little choice other than to hold our nerve , but I truly believe that time will reward us with a superb resort that for most will become a delight.
We found the most fantastic shopping centre in a place called Guia in Portugal. Take the main A22 past Faro until you see the sign for Albufeira, just after the junction for Albufeira, 800mtrs or so, there is a second junction to Guia, take this, then follow the signs to the commercial centre, there is everything there, it's a real treat and only about 40 mins drive from CE.

For those who want locks changing I suggest you ask Benny on site, he is a great guy to know and changed mine in just a few minutes.

For those who are just off to CE....... you lucky things, We can't wait to get back!

betris

im just off there now.with a big bunch of keys

Graham G

No need to rub it in Mel!!

Graham G

Thought just one skeleton key suited your needs.

EsuriJohn

Four weeks today and counting!

EsuriJohn

Two things to watch the further down the site you go the lower down the site you will be and you may find like us that the sewer in the road is a standard 3m to invert and you are below it. Expensive solutions if you don't want to mascerate and pump. Also good waterproof tanked concrete for the basement and the size of the basement will add to the costs I mentioned.

I don't know if you know Lord Portlands place in Nottinghamshire but we have a basement just like his! They don't come cheap!!

tonyp

Gosh are you friends with the aristocracy?

Just out of curiosity where is his place,I am from Notts and have never heard of him.


Tony

EsuriJohn

Don't know him personally but one of the Duke of Portlands ancestors was a very shy person and built a whole palace underground with a huge ballroom. Until very recently it was the Army sixth form college but it has now been handed back to Portland Estates.

Reptonian

Yep, just down the road from Worksop. The Defence 6th Form College, Welbeck College has now been relocated to Leicestershire. The ballroom was used as the gymnasium.

EsuriJohn

Do you know the story of the Dukes masterpieces left hanging on the wall of the ballroom?

Graham G

Just in time to enjoy the umbrella festival in Villa Real de San Antonio.

tonyp

Umbrellas maybe a scarce resource in the UK shortly,perhaps you should buy in bulk from VRS and start a new venture?