We are currently turning five agricultural buildings at Five Acres, Lower Tadmarton, North Oxfordshire, into family homes.
The barns and surrounding land were owned jointly by two local landowners. They had already obtained full planning approval for the barns to be converted into homes. We bought the land and the buildings outright.
Converting any agricultural building nearly always demands some compromise. Those who want to live in them are usually attracted by their rural location, their one-off character, and the feeling of space that huge roof spaces and open-plan living provide. But planners (and often local communities) want them to continue to look like agricultural buildings.
At Five Acres we worked with an architect and negotiated with the local planning officer to increase the window sizes and thus the amount of natural light.
The barns range from 1,500 sq ft to 2,100 sq ft and each has its own private garden. All share the same entrance and a courtyard. The development is due for completion in March 2006.