Julian Owen
Designscape Architects have turned this grade II listed barn into a contemporary home. The building was previously in a bad state of disrepair, but the revision has retained as many of the original features as was possible
Three years ago, a change was made to planning rules that has made it possible to convert a barn into a house under permitted development (PD) rights. This means you may not need to formally apply for planning permission to undertake this kind of project. Offering authentic rural charm, often in secluded locations, barn conversions have a number of benefits, and the ruling change has further encouraged their popularity. But successful schemes have to strike the right balance between satisfying the practical needs of the occupants and retaining the appeal of the original structure.