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  • Amanda Stobbs

Approval of Barn Conversion to Holiday Lets


We were delighted to receive the approval from Stratford-on-Avon Council for the conversion of a barn to four holiday lets in the Warwickshire countryside, not least for our client but also as an achievement for both our architectural and planning teams working together.

The scheme was designed by our in-house architectural team and involved the change of use of the portal framed metal clad agricultural barn into four self-contained two-storey holiday accommodation units, each with parking and garden amenity area, and carefully designed to retain the agricultural character of the former farm complex.

The application was complicated by the planning history of the adjacent brick barns which benefited from both planning permission for conversion to two holiday units and an appeal decision and separate planning permission for full-time residential use. The works on these adjacent barns had, in part, been implemented causing the Council to question their lawful use and thereby the effect of the proposed development on the amenity of their occupiers. We were able to untangle the planning history and provide evidence of the lawful implementation of the holiday-let scheme, thus enabling us to resolve matters relating to amenity.

We also provided evidence to demonstrate that the access, whilst narrow and winding was suitable for the proposed use, with adequate passing places and suitable surfacing, and through minor amendments to the scheme demonstrated how the internal courtyard of the former farm complex would be retained and used to provide a communal amenity space for all the holiday lets.

The sensitive design and resolution of planning matters turned what had been a likely refusal into a positive outcome for the client, the team and for future visitors.

This barn conversion will complete the holiday accommodation complex, in a quiet countryside area with access immediately onto the Arden Way regional footpath and other public rights of way, and in close proximity to Heart of England Forest trails, a National Trust property and local pub – what more could you want from a holiday hideaway?


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