Barn conversions can make stunning, spacious homes full of character, but they weren’t built for human comfort and they weren’t always built to last! With their oak beams, stonework and timber cladding, barns are an integral part of the beautiful Cotswold landscape. Many, however, are in a poor state of repair or need complex technical engineering to ensure that extra floors, adequate water, heating and even internal staircases can be safely added. It’s not simply age that is a cause for concern – modern barn conversions can have as many structural issues as traditional barn conversions.
We design in tandem with structural engineers and surveyors as well as the conservation advisors to provide a complete solution from the foundations up. As Cotswold-based architects, we are specialists in alterations to Listed barn conversions and work in close collaboration with specialist heritage consultants. Many of our projects are either Listed or Heritage sites and we offer expert professional advice on sympathetic, architectural alterations to traditional Cotswold barns.
If you want to convert a barn for residential use you will need Planning Permission and change of use permission. You may not need full Planning Permission and should apply for Class Q Permitted Development if the building was in agricultural use on or before 20th March 2013 or if the barn is not a Listed Building, or in an AONB, National Park or a conservation area. However, it is still important to check this with either your local planning authority or seek advice from your architect.
Barn conversions are by far worth the extra effort and permissions required to create beautifully unique living spaces which effortlessly combine generous open plan living with charm and character.
We love this ancillary annexe design combining timber cladding and traditional features such as Cotswolds stone with clever use of a contemporary zinc panelled roof to create the agricultural look of a barn. We have incorporated glass panelled doors and windows to flood the interiors with light and to create a beautiful additional living and home office space in a design that is sympathetic to the main family home which is also set within the grounds.
As Cotswold based architects, we are specialists in alterations to Listed Buildings and work in close collaboration with specialist heritage consultants. Many of our projects are either Listed or Heritage sites and we offer expert professional advice on sympathetic, architectural alterations to traditional Cotswold buildings.
You will need Planning Permission and change of use permission. You may not need full Planning Permission and should apply for Class Q Permitted Development if:
Paragraph 79 is the country house exemption clause. You may be able to get permission to build “an exceptional one-off house on a site where refusal would normally be expected.”
However, it is still important to check this with either your local planning authority or seek advice from your architect.
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