Barn conversion extension

[Mike77]

Hello, I'm after some advise on behalf of my parents.

Last year they moved into a newly coverted barn with the intention of extending from the back of the property to give them a summer room.

They have recently enquired about this at the local council offices, but have been told that there is a blanket ban on extension to any barn conversions in England & Wales, so their application would not be considered.

Is this really true, or are the council just trying to put them off? I find it difficult to see why such projects would be banned outright, rather than being considered on their own merit. They were expecting to have to stay within strict guidelines, and have already checked that there are no objections in principle from their immediate neighbours, there doesn't seem to be any obvious justification for not allowing it.

Does anyone have any advice about what they could do next?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Councils have a local plan which is basically a list of guidelines saying how development is to be carried out and what is and is not acceptable. It may stipulate that within your councils plan it states that further development of barn conversions is not to be considered and so they are unlikely to support as you have been informed. Copy's of the local plan are often available on the council website to look at. Contact the council again and ask specifically where it states it and ask for them to direct you to a copy so that you can see for yourself. Sometimes conditions attached to a planning application also say that no further development will be allowed so might be worth checking that too. There may also be other various document/guidelines that your council use as well as a local plan but the planners should be able to direct you to the policy to which they are referring, assuming it exists!

 

[jeds]

The statement itself is rubbish - I know of several barn conversions that include extensions. What Freddy says is over-riding though. Look at the local plan. There will be a section on conversions of rural buildings and one on green belts. (if that is applicable) It will say something like; conversions will be allowed providing: etc. etc. Go through each etc. and see if your situation would be allowed.