Planning permission has been granted for the conversion of an existing barn into custom holiday lets, near Belper in Derbyshire.
The proposed works will consist of 4 holiday lets, as well as an activity space which can be used for training workshops or small events. Because the site was chosen for its attractive barn buildings the conversion intends to make minimal changes to the existing structure. As such other than the single storey portion of barn 2 which requires extensive repairs, the existing shell of Barns 1 and 2 will only be altered by the addition of windows and doors, as well as rooflights to the North and East elevations as recommended by the heritage consultant.
As is common for a working barn, the existing brick building has had a mix of uses over the years. It was used as a cattle shed, cart store, and a threshing barn, where the grain is separated from the harvested wheat. Because of this the building has a single story portion with masonry cow feeding pens, as well as a double height space, which used to have first floor storage platforms to stored the grains, and space for threshing the grains in summer, and sheltering the farm’s cattle through the winter.
To retain as much of the existing charm of the buildings as possible it was decided to revise the proposal to instead have high quality single storey suites in this area, including a wheelchair accessible suite, which provides a valuable local resource, as the closest wheelchair accessible hotel room or holiday units are in Duffield or Derby. The proposed suites in this part of the barn will have pitched ceilings, and the existing trusses and internal walls will be retained where possible to create a distinctive and luxurious holiday let with the traditional features of English barn buildings. The new first floor rooms in the main part of the building will also have pitched ceilings and visible purlins, again to retain the attractive character of the building.
The conversion works will also include demolishing the existing corrugated hay loft, which will make a significant difference to the view of the property from the street, as this corrugated metal structure currently sits imposingly between the cow shed and the road.
We are excited to see the changes proposed greatly improve the site, making it more open and more attractive, which will be supported by the addition of local wildflowers and planting. The proposal will also include the repair of the existing barn building. This will ensure the attractive building is repaired and retained for years to come
To see more of our commercial projects you can visit the commercial expertise section of our website, or for more information about our experience with heritage projects see the Heritage & Conservation section.
