Buying A Barn To Convert

Check The Planning Status
The Practicalities

Looking for something with real character? Then how about buying a barn? They make fantastic conversion projects. But is it the right project for you?

By Sara McConnell

It should be so easy. Buy up an old barn, convert it to a house and you've done your bit saving a historic building from falling to pieces, creating a wonderful original home for yourself in the process.

But, warns Adrian Parker, chairman of the Royal Town Planning Institute's countryside panel, it's usually not that simple. 'Converting a barn is a blissful dream a lot of people have, but it needs a lot of thought. People pay quite a lot for large but tall spaces, which end up feeling like a fragment of a big country house.'

Can You Convince The Planners?

One of your biggest hurdles will be to convince local planners that a barn conversion is a good move, says Parker. Local authorities are under pressure from central government to find new uses for old buildings to keep the rural economy healthy. But many barns are miles from shops, schools and other local amenities, which doesn't make them sustainable.

What's Its Planning Status?

Before you buy, check the barn's planning status carefully. It may already have planning permission for change of use, in which case be prepared to pay a premium price. Authorities would rather have barns converted to another commercial use rather than to a house, because this brings more to the local economy, and if they've already been persuaded, you're being saved a lot of work.

Get The Thumbs Up Before You Buy

If it hasn't got change of use permission, find a barn conversion specialist, probably an architect or builder, to draw up conversion plans and discuss them with the local planning officer. Don't buy anything unless you get a positive response, otherwise you could end up with a useless, derelict barn.

Is The Barn Listed?

Check whether the building is listed. About 10 to 15% of barns are individually listed. If it's listed it'll be more difficult to get permission to convert it in the first place and you'll be more restricted in what you can do to it.