Do you have farm buildings or barns that you no longer use? If so, there’s some planning legislation known as Class Q of the General Permitted Development Order that can be used to convert your farm building or barn into a home.
What is Class Q – General Permitted Development?
In essence, Class Q allows for the conversion of buildings in agricultural use into houses. Depending on how large the building or buildings are, you can create up to ten new houses within one agricultural site.
You can create up to 10 dwellings up to a total of 1000m2 of new residential space. The largest an individual dwelling can be is 150m2.
This could all be within one single structure or multiple structures as long as they are in the same agricultural unit.
Also, in planning terms both homes and holiday lets are a planning use class C3 and so planning for a permanent dwelling could also allow its use as a holiday let.
Images are of a potential barn conversion in Huddersfield. We worked with the client to design a spacious four-bedroom house with a large kitchen/dining and living space.
What are the limitations?
There are certain locations where class Q doesn’t apply. These include; if the building is listed (or in the surrounding area of a listed building), conservation areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty and National Parks.
The barn or agricultural building must have been in agricultural use on or before 24th July 2023. The use may have stopped before July 2023, but it can’t have had a change of use since it stopped having an agricultural use.
So for example, you can’t build a barn now and then convert it. You must wait ten years for any site that is newer than July 2023.
The existing building must, in structural terms, already be “capable of functioning as a dwelling”. This means that the building must be capable of conversion. If the building work to convert is so large that it might be regarded as a rebuild, then it wouldn’t fall under the remit of Class Q.
We’ve worked on a number of barn conversion projects over the years.
The project in this photo didn’t go ahead because livestock had chewed through the supporting structures.
Meaning that it was no longer structurally sound and the development couldn’t go ahead.
Changes to Class Q in May 2024 now also mean that rear extensions to agricultural buildings onto hardstanding that has been in-situ since July 2023 are now also permitted as long as they are single storey to a maximum depth and height of 4m. They cannot extend beyond a side or front elevation.
Any further additions externally would require a full planning application. It’s likely that the land immediately surrounding a house (known as the domestic curtilage) will be drawn very tightly to the building perimeter, to stop the domestic feeling of the site from spreading.
Some local planning authorities like all of the development, for example gardens or parking, to be within the confines of the existing structure. This can lead to some very clever design solutions.
Houses needs to be of a high standard
Planning applications now specifically need to provide adequate natural light to all ‘habitable rooms’ in the house.
A ‘habitable room’ is defined as any room intended to be used for sleeping or living which is not solely used for cooking. For example, it doesn’t include bathrooms, utility rooms or hallways. You also need to adhere to the nationally prescribed minimum space standards.
Creating a beautiful barn conversion
At HEM Architects we specialise in inspirational homes and creating beautiful spaces. Using our expertise in planning and design, we can create homes in stunning rural locations that are filled with natural light and feel spacious – designing for better living.
The Orchard
We worked with Lee and Jaclyn in rural Lincolnshire on a new build house in the style of a barn. We worked with the local authority and conservation consultant to achieve a light, spacious and warm home.
A dream home in a rural village
We’re experts at winning planning permission
We’ve achieved a 99% success rate in achieving planning approvals and successful applications in the Green Belt.