Full planning permission has just been granted (January 2022) for the full conversion of this timber framed, non-listed agricultural barn into a detached, five bedroom residential dwelling. Located in north Essex, just outside Saffron Walden, the barn occupies a prominent position, set alone in the midst of agricultural fields. It is a traditional Essex timber framed barn, finished with black painted weather boarding under a corrugated tin roof, with a mid-strey. The barn is an attractive feature in the surrounding open countryside.
The barn will be retained in its entirety other than the lean-to on the eastern side, which is relatively modern in character and contributes little to the overall structure. The lean to on the front of the barn will be reconstructed, on the same footprint and will retain its form. The conversion works will cause minimal disruption to the frame and form of the barn. Openings will be minimal, using existing fenestration where possible, and where new windows are required they will be placed between the existing studwork.
When converted, the barn accommodation with include a kitchen, snug and breakfast room in the front lean-to on the ground floor; three reception rooms but all open plan over the entire ground floor of the main timber framed barn. A section of this will be open to the roof, with a staircase to the first floor. The section of the barn attached on the eastern side will provide an entrance hall, study, a utility room and two bedrooms and a shower room. In the main barn on the first floor there will be two bedrooms and bathrooms and an open study area. Within the barn section to the east, served via a separate staircase, there will be a bedroom suite with a bedroom, dressing room and bathroom.
The exterior of the barn will be timber feather edged boarding painted black and hand made plain clay tiles to the roofs, other than the lean-to at the front, which will be clad in slate owing to its shallow pitch. A modest traditional oak-framed and timber-clad cart lodge will be located to the east of the barn. This, too, will have a plain clay tiled roof.
