Ranvilles Lane, Stubbington

Overview

This project came to us via a recommendation, for a client who owns a piece of agricultural land near Fareham. The site included two steel-framed barns, which the client used for storage of various bits of agricultural machinery. Originally, the client came to us wishing to convert the larger of the barns into a home, having previously been advised that they'd not be able to obtain planning permission by another designer.

Design Approach

The brief brought to us from the client was to convert one of the barns into a permanent, modern two-bedroom home for their own occupation. They'd originally sought advice from another designer who'd advised them that they wouldn't be able to obtain permission for the change of use, due to being located in the green belt. However, we advised the client that the building would qualify for permitted development rights for the change of use.

While the building offered a comfortable footprint for conversion into a dwelling, the barn's outward appearance was somewhat industrial. We advise the client that not only would the permitted development rights allow the change of use, but also the external materials. The task presented to us was therefore to maintain the existing structure while modernising the style and create a visually stunning home, while staying within the bounds of permitted development.

Our approach was to re-clad the structure in materials which would be sympathetic with the site's location, primarily including timber cladding and a modern standing seam metal roof. We designed an internal layout that benefitted from both the layout of the building and the natural beauty of the surrounding area to create a harmonious home.

Outcome

The final proposal delivered a high-quality, contemporary home that met the client’s needs and makes intelligent use of the existing structure. By working within permitted development rights, we were able to streamline the process while still achieving a thoughtful and well-considered design.

Follow-up

Following the completion of the initial project, the client came back to us to obtain planning permission for a detached oak carport. The completed barn conversion and detached carport can be seen in the photos below.

Since completion, the client has also contacted us to complete a similar project for the second barn on the property. We obtained permitted development approvals for the change of use of the second barn into a one-bedroom home.