There is a need to provide housing within the countryside and a sustainable case for converting barns to help provide this.
A criticism of the majority of barn conversions is that firstly, converting an old building is not the most economical solution. Secondly, the conversion often results in a single home, grand in scale. It is rare for barns to be converted into clusters of simple rural houses, unless they are holiday homes. This is a missed opportunity.
Barns are existing buildings within the countryside. By converting barns into dwellings we are both making the best use of existing resources and making minimal impositions on our familiar idea of the countryside. It is only one solution to the housing crisis, but an important one nevertheless.
Older traditional barns are often viewed as beautiful and of course they often have extra protections in place due to their historical significance.
Modern barns appear to us as functional agricultural buildings within the rural landscape and for this reason we accept them.
A difficulty with some barns as possible candidates for conversion can their remote location and lack of access. However, the majority of barns are located within a farmstead that is within proximity to the highway.
The scale and arrangement of traditional farmsteads can suit conversion into smaller multiple units. One of the most traditional forms for a farmstead is an arrangement of spaces around a courtyard enclosed by medieval strip fields, notable by their curved profiles. After 1750 the arrangement became more formalised as farmland was further enclosed.
Steel and concrete barns are increasingly being converted into dwellings. Many modern barn buildings are much larger in span than traditional constructions and they are often able to be converted into multiple dwellings.
This has been assisted by the addition of Class Q (Prior Approval) to the General Permitted Development Order, amendments to which come in effect from May 2025 – see my previous post here.
Barns located on protected land or those that are Listed have additional protections in place. Class Q will not apply and many other Permitted Development rights are further restricted. The specifics of these will depend on each individual situation.
To summarise, there is a strong case for converting barns as part of an overall sustainable housing strategy.
Should you wish to discuss about your particular site, do feel free to contact me.