Two routes
Class Q prior approval. Permitted development rights allow some agricultural buildings to become homes without a full planning application, subject to prior approval on issues such as transport, noise, flooding, the building's location and its design. There are strict tests, including the building's agricultural use and whether it can be converted without major rebuilding. The rules were revised in 2024, so it's important to check against the current version.
Full planning permission. Needed where Class Q doesn't apply, for example for listed barns, buildings in conservation areas or National Landscapes, non-agricultural buildings, or schemes needing more alteration than Class Q allows.
How we help
- Checking whether your building qualifies for Class Q
- A measured survey, so the existing structure is recorded accurately
- Designs that keep the agricultural character: simple forms, minimal openings and appropriate materials
- Structural and ecology input where needed, as bat and owl surveys are common with barns
- The application, and planning conditions afterwards
Who'll handle your project: Benjamin Plunkett, our Managing Director and Planning & Heritage Consultant, is your point of contact from the first site visit to the decision. Charlie Plunkett MCIAT produces the drawings.
About us
