Our client purchased a plot of agricultural land including a barn which they intended to convert into a home. The building had prior approval via Class Q for conversion to three dwellings, but this had lapsed. They decided to create two semi-detached properties instead, which they plan to live in. There were some elements of design which were important to include:
The client contacted us for advice while they were considering buying the land. They were aware of new Class Q rules coming into effect which would have limited the size of the property they could build and they wanted our advice on what was feasible, taking this into consideration.
After discussing the options, they had an offer accepted and then went on to instruct us to submit a new Class Q application under the old rules to allow them to develop the property to the size they required – a combined floor area of around 565 sqm. Large dwellings are no longer possible through Class Q as there is a 150 sqm limit per property although there are often planning application options to achieve more significant sized dwellings.
The client had clear ideas but trusted us to lead on the design and layout. It is a sizeable project with some expansive spaces, including a large double height living/dining area in the larger property. The middle of the bigger house will be the darkest area of the property and so was the natural location for the cinema and the garage. The rest of the layout is orientated around these areas with the utility areas tucked away and the remaining rooms on the outer edge to make the most of the stunning views.
The forthcoming changes to Class Q legislation added a sense of urgency to the planning procedure but we were confident in our application and it was approved with no issues.
The site is on a slight slope which presented some access difficulties but it’s nothing we haven’t dealt with many times before and is an easy work-around.
In design terms, the challenge with such a large project is to make sense of and utilise every bit of space to its maximum potential. To both maximise potential and meet the client’s wish list, we created a design that considered both – and our client is very happy with the plans and designs.
As we go into the autumn, we’re up in the roof – where we can appreciate the beautiful in the surroundings.
“We found the land back in June 2024 and started investigating the possibilities of converting the barn. The projects on Vernacular Homes’ website seemed very similar to what we wanted so we got in touch before we’d even put an offer in on the land.
“We spoke to Trevor and straight off, he was giving us impartial, free advice about how we could make it work under Class Q, and the chances of succeeding with planning approval.We took his advice and after having our offer accepted, we then commissioned Vernacular Homes to take care of the design and planning application. They got everything done before we even completed on the sale, so the day our purchase was all finalised, they were ready to submit the application immediately and it got approved quickly. They had given us a quote for the full build too and it was the natural choice to go with them. We didn’t feel the need to negotiate on the price because we knew it reflected the quality of their work and we wanted everything to be just right.
“The most important thing to us was that all the space would be utilised. We’re not very ‘open plan’ people so we wanted functionality with mostly separate rooms but some open plan elements.
“The Vernacular team came up with the first design and made lots of great suggestions – they’re really good with coming up with solutions to design problems. They also pre-empt issues, catching things before you’ve committed money to them. If there’s anything we’ve changed our mind about, they’re so accommodating and will always give us honest feedback and alternatives if our ideas aren’t going to work.
“Every month, our invoice from them tells us exactly what we’ve paid for and the percentage of tasks completed so far. There have been no surprises at all so far – in fact, there have been a few areas where we’ve saved money as we’ve made small changes that Oliver has been able to make savings on for us.
“My advice to anyone taking on a similar project would be to work with someone like Vernacular Homes. Talk to them first and get their opinion – they know what they’re doing and they’re so honest and passionate about what they do. They’ve made the whole process enjoyable, taken any stress away from us and importantly, they do everything they say they’re going to do.
It’s early days in the build but the thing I’m most looking forward to when it’s finished is seeing our kids grow up in the house. It’s such a big place that they can grow into, they’ll have their own bedrooms and lots of land to enjoy. It’s going to be a dream house and I can’t see us planning to move any time in the future.”
“This is a lovely project to work on so far and we’re looking forward to the end result. It’s a stunning plot well set back from the lane and will be a wonderfully quiet, secluded place to live.
“The client came to us for advice before they bought the land, which is a very sensible idea and we encourage others to do the same, to be confident in being able to take on the project wanted or required to create the home that’s dreamed of.
“By working on the plans during the conveyancing process, we were in a position to submit plans the minute they took ownership, enabling the build to start much sooner.”
For an informal conversation about your project please call us on 01233 861177 or email us using the form. Your data is not used for marketing – only to contact you.
If you have documents - previous designs, plans or photos, please send them to us via email: enquiries@vernacularhomes.com
