For those who want to convert a barn, there is the undoubted potential to create a unique one-off home that already comes packed with character, and will leave the homeowner with a building that is larger in volume and scale than one might have otherwise achieved. Here, we explore how to go about your barn conversion project.

Finding Opportunities

Given the strict planning rules limiting the building of new dwellings in the countryside, barn conversions are becoming more popular for those looking to move to the country.

The types of barns available will often depend on the area of the country you’re looking to reside in. Timber barns, for instance, are predominantly found in the south and east of the country and offer vast volumes of space, while stone barns (which are the most expensive to convert) are more common in the north and west, and tend to feature small openings — as do brick barns.

There are several ways to find a project:

• Go to the local authority and check for any planning permissions granted or pending for these types of dwellings.
• Look through local papers.
• Make contact with estate agents.
• Research using online services — websites such as barnsetc.co.uk and plotfinder.net are both good starting points.

It can also often be the case that these types of buildings are not currently on the market, so it will be down to you to investigate. Take a tour of the area (either by driving or even making use of the handy Street View tool on Google Maps) and look out for any redundant buildings.

Should you come across any, you can then seek out the owners with whom you can discuss the possibility of selling. However, never buy a building on the assumption that you will be able to gain planning permission to convert it.

Costs and VAT

Estimating the costs for a conversion project can be difficult given that every project of this nature will be wildly different from the next, and the condition of the building will have a big impact on expenses.

You will also need to factor in how much DIY will be involved as this too will influence the budget. Should the building be of poor condition, you might choose to go down the (albeit, more expensive) route of hiring an architectural firm. Or, you may want to take control of the bulk of the work yourself, but be prepared for the problems thrown up by a building which was not initially built with a residential purpose.

Financing conversion projects is also not as straight-forward as standard renovations. Your best bet might indeed be to target self-build mortgage specialists such as the Ecology Building Society (ecology.co.uk) who specialise in lending on out-of-the-ordinary projects.

One of the most attractive features of conversions is that like new builds, they are largely free of VAT which you will be able to reclaim under HM Revenue & Customs Notice 431C. This means that if you use a VAT-registered builder, they will invoice their work and materials at the reduced rate of five percent, while any materials you buy yourself will be charged at the standard VAT rate.

The potential to create dramatic double height living spaces like this one with a galleried landing is what draws many to barn conversions

Surveys

As with any property, it is important to have the building surveyed before exchanging contracts. While you can use architects or structural engineers to carry out the survey for you, most surveys will be carried out by a building surveyor who is a member of the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveying).

From this, you will be able to gauge how much work will be involved, the costs and what problems you may face throughout the project. Bear in mind though that until you begin work on the conversion, you cannot be sure of exactly what you will find.

Services

The chances are that the barn you have found will have been left unused for some time, and given the non-domestic nature of its former purpose, will not be connected to the mains — so getting water and electricity will be a top priority, as will sorting out a sewerage system.

This will all need to be considered in the budget. If the barn is off-mains, this provides the converter with the opportunity to consider adopting a greener approach to energy. Open plan spaces, for instance, are best-served by underfloor heating which works well with heat pumps.

Should you be able to incorporate heavy insulation without disrupting the natural fabric of the building, this will also up the eco-credentials of your conversion.

Planning Permission

Once you have found a barn, you will need to gain detailed planning approval before you can start work. There will be some authorities that will prefer redundant agricultural buildings in the countryside to have any use except domestic, so you will have to work hard to prove that there is no demand for the building to be re-used in a commercial capacity.

In order to gain favour with the planners, carefully read their guidelines in the local authority’s Local Plans, available to view on their website. You should also consider the following:

• Where older buildings are concerned, planners don’t like to see significant alterations to the external appearance. This could limit the number of new windows, doors and openings, as well as changes to exterior cladding.
• Planners may ask for drawings of the internal elevations to assess how modern additions such as insulation can be fitted without harming the building.
• Try to ensure that the character of the building remains intact while accommodating modern lifestyle demands.
• Plans are often handed to historic buildings officers for further inspection. This may mean independent structural surveys to prove that the building can be converted without compromising or damaging the original structure.
• Listed buildings and those in conservation areas may be granted consent for conversion only if you adhere to certain restrictions.
• Derelict barns will, quite often, be home to various types of wildlife – bats and owls in particular – and so a protected species survey will need to be carried out to ensure that any wildlife is not disturbed.

A listed derelict barn has been converted by the Parsons family into a bright and warm eco home

The Design

A successful conversion will be a sympathetic transformation, reflecting the building’s heritage and former purpose, with the interior offering the perfect mix of dramatic, double-height open plan spaces and cosier areas for much-needed privacy.

Layout

The subdivision of the interior space will usually be informed by the limitations of the barn (the positioning of internal structural walls), as well as the opportunities it presents (voluminous double-height spaces).

Barns are usually long and narrow so a central hallway is often the best solution to providing access and circulation, as well as being the ideal place to show off the volume of the space. With a double-height feature in the central hallway, the first floor is best linked across here, with a galleried landing or ‘bridge’ walkway being the ideal solution. This will also help you to avoid cutting across the main barn door opening.

You could alternatively opt for two separate staircases, allowing the bedroom accommodation to be divided into two, with the guest bedroom arrangement to one side (accessed by the main staircase in the hub of the home), with the master bedroom served by a private staircase located at the far end of the barn.

This barn features a large internal window so that the loft space can borrow light from the open plan space below

Light, Windows and Doors

One of the key considerations when converting barns is the use of natural light. Barns are typical for having either small openings for ventilation purposes or enormous cart door openings, so lack of light can be a problem.

On the main elevations, window and door openings will often be restricted (by reluctant planners) to those that already exist so you may have to be more creative in finding ways of introducing light. On secondary elevations however, some additional doors and windows may be allowed subject to consent.

In order to introduce natural light, barn converters have adopted numerous creative solutions, including:

• adding conservation-style rooflights on less prominent elevations
• using glass pantiles or discreet ridge glazing
• glazing entire gable ends
• applying full-height glazing to cart openings

Using open plan living arrangements will also aid in maximising the amount of light entering the internal space.

Walls

Should you need to repair any of the existing exterior walls, this should be done on a like-for-like basis. As brick or stone walls tend to be of solid construction, to meet Part L of Building Regulations, insulation will need to be added to the internal face of the external walls.

An alternative to this could be adding new partition walls built in matching brick or stone, or to achieve a seamless blend between originals and repairs, it may even be possible to repoint the whole wall — using lime mortar to retain breathability, ensuring that the removal of any original mortar is kept to a minimum.

Insulating timber frame barns is less of a problem for converters as the existing cladding can often be removed and a layer of insulation added in between the frame. Again, make up any repairs by matching materials and where possible, re-use the original cladding.

Judith and Chris Brook have managed to create open plan living spaces around the stunning exposed brick walls

Adding Floors

If the barn is of particularly great volume, it may be possible to take advantage of this by creating additional storeys. You may be restricted by the slope of the roof or the collars on roof trusses, but it may be possible to alter the trusses to create access to first floor rooms.

Excavating the existing floor will usually be necessary in order to lay a new floor structure and it may even be possible to use the existing brick or stone walls to help support new floor structures. Should there be the need for underpinning, a steel or timber frame could be employed.

Joinery

If any of the original windows are left intact then it is worth salvaging or repairing these. Use them as a template for any replacements. Barn doors are usually sturdy, utilitarian and constructed from vertical planks of timber, so new doors should follow the same pattern, with matching door furniture.