We bought the barn with planning permission in place. The plans were very simple and low impact. The structure of the building remained unchanged, utilising existing windows and doors, with the simple addition of some small velux windows in the roof.
When we came to readdress the plans with our designer, the opportunity presented itself to add some windows to the currently blind south facing gable end. We submitted an amendment to the existing planning to add a central window to the first floor bedroom to provide a fire exit (happily with fine views over the hills) and two similar diametrically positioned windows on the ground floor. The additional windows would be in-keeping with the vernacular agricultural architecture, which incorporates first floor hay-loft doors and ground floor ventilation slits, which these new openings would mimic.
Happily the amendment to the planning has been agreed and the light levels in the converted building hopefully raised.
A case of building regulations helping us out and presenting the opportunity to make the building safer, lighter and generally more people friendly.
Leave a Reply