Background to Barn Conversions

Over the years our once thriving agricultural heritage has continued to decline, due mainly to incorporate the country's political decision makers. As a result many small farm holds, incorporating agricultural buildings now remain redundant.

Converting barns and associated buildings is seen generally as a positive step, which avoids the otherwise inevitable loss. However if you own any such building and you intend to convert it into a dwelling you will have to apply to your local planning authority to do so. Local planning policy usually requires that the structure is traditional, structurally souna and capable of conversion. if you have a severely dilapidated building it may not be accepted as a conversion. Should the local authority consider that the conversion is acceptable in principle, you will have to satisfy them in terms of the full design details. For example, new materials used should be in keeping with those formerly use. Replacing a dilapidated natural slate roof with modern interlocking concrete tiles is a good example of an unacceptable design proposal. New openings in the building should be avoided at all costs, and new internal layouts should be worked around existing openings if at all possible. early consultation with your local planning authority is advised and under no circumstances should you proceed with any buildilng works without their written approval.

It should also be remembered that Building Regulation approval will be required for the conversion works. This will involve satisfying all new structural, foul drainage, and other constructional details which will affect the new residential users of the conevrted building. Again, early consultation is advised.

Winter 2003