There’s nothing wrong with having an ambitious goal in mind. But when it comes to the actual planning and construction of your barn conversion, there’s a lot to consider. Read on for a comprehensive barn conversion guide to make things a little easier.
Planning permission is the elephant in the room when you talk about any new development. Fortunately, barn conversions may be classed as a Class Q permitted development as they are using an existing building. However, the barn in question needs to meet the following requirements:
All of this will need to be demonstrated to your local authority to secure Class Q permitted development rights with a lawful development certificate. This includes approval for various factors relating to the barn conversion, such as:
On the other hand, if you fail to meet any of the above criteria, you’ll need to apply for planning permission. As above, you can increase your application’s chances of success by retaining the building’s character and considering the surroundings. The timeframe for both routes is similar, with both planning permission and lawful development certificate decisions typically taking 8-13 weeks.
It can be a long process from concept to completion with a new barn conversion. Here’s a brief guide to some steps along the way:
The finances are probably the most important and stressful part of your barn conversion. It is essential to do your research at the beginning extremely carefully, so you aren’t hit with any extra costs that you didn’t know about. Any Grand Designs fan will know how easy it is for the budget to skyrocket!
Make sure you are as precise as you can be with your barn conversion costs and utilise your architect’s knowledge to keep finances on track.
Checkatrade advises that the average barn conversion costs around £275,000. That’s around £153 per square foot. If you are converting a small barn, you could manage it for £175,000 depending on the quality of fixtures and fittings wanted. But remember that this is after you have bought the existing structure. As for extra costs, if you’re going for energy-efficient heating such as an air source heat pump, you could be looking at an extra bill of around £30,000.
Other costs that could crop up include:
With the requirements listed above, you might be wondering whether it’s worth the effort and costs to convert a barn. The answer is still a resounding yes. Here’s why…
Barn conversions are perfect for allowing you to think outside the box with design. You would be missing a trick if you didn’t consider bi-fold doors that open out into the garden, for example. This gives you the option to combine house and garden, creating a flowing style from inside to outside.
Advances in eco-friendly energy are a huge benefit of barn conversions. Heating options such as air source heat pumps (ASHP) can potentially save up to 65% in energy usage and running costs. You could also take advantage of the Renewable Energy Heat Incentive (RHI), entitling you to financial rewards for creating renewable heat.
As barns tend to be in the countryside, you are likely to have idyllic views on your doorstep. Surrounded by rural beauty, some barn conversions were once the local cow shed and are still seen as vital to the landscape. Your new home will often be in the midst of open countryside but with no need to rough it – giving you the best of both worlds.
Remember to consider what direction the best views are in before deciding where to place your windows or patio doors.
If your barn conversion needs planning permission, you have a very good chance of it being granted. You need to make sure though that your design is an improvement to the original and stays basically the same height and footprint. The Local Planning Authorities (LPA) will also look more favourably on your conversion if it isn’t likely to adversely affect the countryside.
Designing a barn conversion gives you the opportunity to mix old and new. Utilise the existing style of the building to inspire the interior. You will be able to combine traditional features like exposed beams with modern smart audio-visual technology. Living in a barn conversion with a design mix will show off your personal style as well as provide practicality and comfort.
Barn conversions are a great way to create your dream living space, but they aren’t without their challenges. Having an experienced architect on your side can make the process a lot easier and help turn your vision into a reality.
It’s not just about designs and drawings either. As award-winning architects in Sheffield, CODA Bespoke can help with every step of the barn conversion process, from planning permission and budget management to project managing your build.
If you want to find out more about the practicalities of a barn conversion and how we can help, simply call our experienced team on 0114 279 4931 or email us at hello@codabespoke.co.uk and we will get started on bringing your project to life.
