Change of plans: basements

[Swarfing]

Rouge if you drop some pipes down and add a couple of radiators you might find that is all you need to clear any damp up? Going for the lime wash look over the natural surface will give a nice cottage feel down there and look rather good. Still treat the walls for fungal first with stiff brush. Assuming you have neighbors then the only real problem walls will be the front and back ones. Once it is all in use i don't think you would ever notice it again.

[Rogue]

Rouge if you drop some pipes down and add a couple of radiators you might find that is all you need to clear any damp up? Going for the lime wash look over the natural surface will give a nice cottage feel down there and look rather good.

There is zero hope in hell that my wife will let me near the plumbing or heating (and admittedly with good reason). Plumbers don't tend to be the cheapest of people to hire so I was thinking along the lines of a small electric heater to run every now and then.

I'm not so concerned about the "cottage feel", but I reckon it will help make the place much lighter and less oppressive.