Located in a rural location in North Essex, this large modern agricultural barn is outside any village development limits and is surrounded by agricultural land. It originally formed part of an agricultural holding and was one of two modern agricultural barns that were granted planning permission at appeal. It has a footprint of 225sqm (2,421sqft). Originally finished externally with a selection of metal and cement corrugated profiled sheeting sitting on a brickwork plinth. Internally there are a series of scissor style timber trusses,
The scheme approved at appeal provided residential accommodation on one level, comprising, open plan living, dining kitchen area, four bedrooms, one en-suite bathroom and a family bathroom. It took no advantage of the two-storey element of the barn, although full height glazing was proposed externally on all elevations. It was an ill-conceived, poorly considered scheme.
The finished scheme makes the most of the double height spaces in the barn, providing large open full height internal and external areas, including a full height entrance lobby and void above the dining and kitchen areas. Sliding/folding doors provide access to the garden from the living and dining areas, while also forming a sheltered balcony area to the master bedroom. These deep recesses provide additional shadows and relief to the elevations. The conversion of the timber framed barn to provides a family home comprising, double height entrance hall, open plan living/dining area, kitchen snug, study, utility room, plant room and guest bedroom on the ground floor. On the first floor are four further double bedrooms, two with en-suite bathrooms, a dressing room to the master bedroom, family bathroom and laundry room. A large double height void above the dining kitchen area is in the centre of the barn.
Externally the existing metal and cement corrugated profile sheeting was removed and replaced with an insulated profile metal/standing seam sheet system on the roof and vertical larch timber boarding to the walls. The larch boarding was left untreated to weather naturally providing a light grey colour over time. A facing brick plinth was provided around the building. The double-glazed windows, doors, roof lights, gutters and down pipes are all finished in powder colour coated aluminium
The overall appearance of the barn has been kept to that expected of utilitarian farm buildings in order to maintain its visual setting in the countryside, while providing a generous family home.
