Barn Conversions

Whether converting to a holiday home or your own home, barns have their own character and features that we believe should be enhanced/encorporated into the design; maintaining as much of the original internal and external character as possible.

Whilst working for a local construction company as a site manager, Stuart was responsible for the conversion of 8 barn conversions in West Norfolk; and has also designed and managed barn conversions across Norfolk.

Stuart has been working on traditional brick and timber barns since the age of 17 (having grown up on a farm) and therefore has a good knowledge of what does and does not work both structurally and visually.

Design – Non Traditional (Class Q) Barn Conversion, Norfolk

Under Class q permitted development rights, the conversion of non-standard construction barn can be converted into a dwelling(s) without the need for planning permission. Similar to the permitted development rights for an extensions to your own home; these rights permit these metal frame/industrial looking barns to be converted into dwellings…as long as a number of […]

Design & Building Regulations – Barn Conversion, North Norfolk

A Single storey 2 bedroom barn conversion in North Norfolk. Planning permission and Building Regulations approval were approved on this barn conversion. The internal walls/vaulted roof were lined with insulation above that required by building regulations so as to achieve a high thermal efficiency for the barn; minimising the loss of heat and therefore the […]

Build – 8 Barn conversions, West Norfolk

Whilst working for JS Hay Building Contractors I was the site manager for this project in West Norfolk. With a mixture of brickwork/flint and cladded walls both inside and out and the varying levels (incline) across the site, this was a complex project to work on. Rather than installing individual heating to each barn, there […]

Surveys required :

Barns conversions will more often than not require an ecological survey (bat, owl or newt etc) and structural survey to be submitted with the planning application. We can arrange for all of these to be undertaken on your behalf.

Non traditional Barn Conversions - Class Q.

We also work closely with a Norfolk based planning expert who can offer guidance on the conversions of barns under permitted development (often referred to as Class Q) and undertake the structural surveys that are required with this class of application.

Find out more at :

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/when-is-permission-required#residential-uses

Converting Barns to Offices

Stuart was on the committee for the Wensum and Coast Local Action Group which delivered rural development funding across North Norfolk. Grants may still be available for the conversion of barns to offices for rental to local start up businesses. We can point you in the direction of your Local Action Group for your area as funding may still be available. Below are the current funding priorities of Wensum and Coast Local action group :

Improving Community and Business Facilities and Services.
Supporting Small and Micro Enterprises.
Promoting responsible use of the high quality environment for tourism, including contributing to its conservation and enhancement.
Increasing and adding value to food and drink production and processing.
Farm Diversification and Productivity.
Water Management.
Forestry.

Follow this link to find out more about rural development funding : https://www.norfolklags.co.uk/

For good practice and basic principles of barn converting see the links below :

https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/barn-conversion-design-guide/

https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/conversion-of-traditional-farm-buildings/traditional-farm.pdf/