Adding value to a farm

Land and Property Professionals

We sell, rent, manage, survey, plan and advise...what can we do for you?

Bedford: 01234 351000 (Sales, lettings and viewing enquiries)
01234 352201 (Professional services and general enquiries)
Buckingham: 01280 428010

Traditional farmyards are by their nature often found in central village locations, within Conservation Areas and with the added complication of listed buildings. This presents particular challenges in terms of the planning and design process when changes are required to keep abreast of modern farming practices. Even more so where the proposed work includes residential barn conversions, new farm buildings and a modern extension to a 400 year old listed farmhouse.

This was the challenge recently faced by one of our farming clients. The intention was to release value from converting the traditional buildings into dwellings whilst incorporating a new workshop building and a modern extension to the listed farmhouse. This would enable the traditional farmstead to be relocated to an alternative site a short distance away.

Our Planning team engaged early with the local planning authority and submitted a pre-application enquiry which involved an initial site meeting with both Planning Officer and the Historic Buildings Officer. Based on the responses our Architecture & Building Surveying team created drawings to show the proposals would enhance the setting of the traditional farmyard, particularly in relation to the listed farmhouse. It was a particular challenge to convince the Historic Buildings Officer that a modern but sensitively designed garden room extension with glazed link would add to the appearance of the house. This was achieved through a series of visualisations to show how the completed dwellings would look from the roadside. The team liaised closely with the local planning authority throughout and commissioned various third party specialist reports, including a full Heritage Statement. The Planning Officers were able to support the proposals and the plans were comprehensively approved by the local planning authority.

Our client commented, “You frequently hear about local residents’ concerns when planning permission is sought within their locality. However, I was gratified to note that I received many positive comments about the way in which Robinson & Hall handled the application. A number of these comments praised the attention to detail which was given to the plans to preserve the traditional look of the barns and enhance the overall setting, whilst giving a modern twist which was in keeping with the farmhouse.”

Following the grant of planning consent, the barn conversions were sold by our Residential Sales team.The sale price achieved exceeded the guide price by 25% and the client was extremely pleased with this outcome.

Andrew Barr, Head of Planning & Development comments, “The journey hasn’t stopped there either. We are working with our client to see the farmyard redevelopment project through to completion. The range of services which we have at Robinson & Hall has enabled us to work with our client throughout.”

The client continues, “We knew that this would always be a challenging project. We have been impressed by the different specialisms at Robinson & Hall and how they have worked together to produce this successful outcome. We are now able to continue farming operations with a combination of new buildings and modified layouts more compatible with modern farming practices.”

If you think there is scope on your farm to re-evaluate the resource you have available in terms of buildings and land and would like an initial, no obligation meeting to see how Robinson & Hall can help you and your business, then please contact Andrew.