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Barn conversions

Turn disused, agricultural out buildings into lavish spaces set in the country side across East Yorkshire

With the planning laws ever relaxing around barn conversions agricultural buildings, it is increasingly easy to unlock potential value, uplift and create beautiful homes in rural areas like the outskirts of Hull and the East Riding.

Barn conversions have a range of potential in terms of what they can offer your property, too. They’re a great example of recreational spaces, as well as entirely separate living quarters, and even rentable space should you want a new area of income providing you do everything correctly.

Whatever you need for your barn conversion project, our expert team can help. we have a huge range of experience working with barns just waiting to be used to help you create the perfect building.

Contact us today, and we’ll be happy to discuss your project with you.

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Designing a barn conversion

The size orientation and outlook will be the key factors in designing a barn into living spaces, they are typically long and narrow in shape.  Creating through rooms is not always avoidable, but with high apex roofs, you can create wonderful open mezzanines and galleries.

As with all designs for new builds, you need utilities, access, services and to adhere to all the building regulations as you would a new build. Insulation will typically be formed within the fabric of the building, leaving the existing structure as a material finish. More of this will be involved in the building regulations stage than the design stage, but it’s all-important to keep in mind to get an overall picture.

All additional openings, windows and roof lights will need to be in keeping, no white UPVC windows within a stone and oak structure if you want the best design possible that will look just as fantastic outside as it will inside.

Ultimately, the design will be centred around keeping the original shell of the building, all the while making sure that there is natural light and picturesque views. Whatever your projects situation, our architects and designers will ensure your project meets its full potential.

From basic design to full project management, you can tailor your service to you

Planning permission guide

Gaining planning permission

It can be difficult to convert a barn through the traditional planning process, as creating a new home in the open countryside on agricultural land, and protected farm buildings can create a lot of issues and obstacles. Luckily despite this, however, as of recent years, changes to the legislation behind planning for barns actually means that in most cases, a barn can be converted under your Permitted Development Rights.

The Barn Conversion clause comes about as part of a new Class – MB – into Part 3 of the Second Schedule of the General Permitted Development Order. This new class authorises change of use of a building, and any land within its curtilage from use as an agricultural building to a use falling within Class C3 – dwellings. It also authorises building operations ‘reasonably’ necessary to convert the building to residential use.

Under Permitted Develop[meant, planning isn’t actually required for the change of use, providing that certain criteria are met:

  • The site must have been used solely for agricultural use historically.
  • The barn must have existed prior to the 20th March 2013 (no building new barns). New barns can be built and converted into homes but must exist as solely agricultural buildings for at least 10 years.
  • The total floorspace of your barn to be converted must be no more than 450m² – if the barn is bigger, you’ll only be able to convert to a maximum of 450m². If bigger then the 450m² can be divided into three separate dwellings.
  • If the site is subject to an agricultural tenancy, landowners must have the express consent of their tenants.

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Building regulations guide

Planning to building regulations

Building regulations are the next step of the architectural process, as these ensure your project is designed and built to standard and are legal, safe and of high quality.

Barn conversions are subject to the same rules as any new build, you will need to provide SAP calculations, to design the energy efficiency of the home, and give requirements for insulation and heating performance. You’ll also need the building to be assessed for structural stability and sound testing will be required on completion, but all construction elements affecting sound, need to be detailed and built-in accordance with approved plans.

All other documents of the building regulations will need to be checked via full plans approval prior to commencing.

After addressing all of this carefully, we will provide you with a detailed set of building regulation drawings that will allow you to tender if you wish and give you a guide for the build.

From that point, you can move forward with your barn conversion project to choose a builder to carry out the work as you see fit, or alternatively, carry out a project management service like ours where we’ll do this for you and manage the whole thing.

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