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Barn and farm building conversions

The conversion and renovation of old buildings is a specialist area of building.

Disused barns and farm buildings are often in conservation areas. Not only do these buildings have to be sympathetically restored to ‘fit in’ with the area in which they are situated, but also sympathetically restored to provide suitable accommodation for the 21st century.

Kent Building Developments specialises in the renovation and conversion of old and ancient buildings. We know how important it is that the finished renovation retains its original character, fulfils modern building regulations and provides a comfortable and efficient home. Working with listed buildings provided another challenge and one we successfully accomplished with The Parish bar and restaurant.

Among our next projects include a listed barn conversion near Malton North Yorkshire and a listed building renovation in Howden in East Yorkshire.

As someone considering a renovation project to provide a unique and individual home you need the reassurance of a professional building company. Kent Building Developments will undertake your project efficiently and effectively while supervising the entire renovation process.

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Some of our conversions

Listed and old buildings need special care! It takes skill to provide comfortable living accommodation while maintaining the architectural integrity of these special buildings.

Grade II Listed Town House

This was the case with a Victorian Grade II listed Town House in Howden East Yorkshire. The house was originally commercial premises and had been a bank. This beautiful building had undergone conversion in the 1970’s into three flats. The planning, design and research we undertook on behalf of our client restored the building to its former glory.

What we did

In the first stage we removed stud walls, suspended ceilings and a staircase that led to one of the flats. This work revealed an original cast iron fireplace and extensive damage to some original features including an arched window. Skilful restoration of the fireplace, ornate plaster work and repairs to other features including new ground floor sash windows brought the Town House back to life. A state of the art underfloor heating system ensures the house is warm and dry without any cold spots. This also helps to preserve the building.

The result

Our client has a comfortable, warm, elegant and unique home. A new arched landing window to the rear provides superb views over the historical conservation area of Howden.

Shooting Box Cottage

Most of the renovation projects Kent Building Developments takes on are for existing stone or brick constructed buildings. Occasionally something a little more unusual comes along. So it was with the Shooting Box Cottage which was built at the turn of the 19th century. This distinctive wooden building with ship lap cladding to its walls and gables was in a sorry state.

The decision taken was sadly to demolish and rebuild. The challenge with Shooting Box Cottage was to rebuild this charming estate cottage to comply with both modern building regulations and to comply with conservation regulations. Saving the original Victorian fire place and chimney’s was a priority.

Today Shooting Box Cottage sits proudly alongside the Shooting box. The cottage is a sturdy brick built structure but you would never know. Wooden cladding has brought this distinctive cottage back to life. Replaced decorative timber tracery to the gables and a newly commissioned roof with decorative finials, with the replacement of the original chimneys mean the cottage has retained its Victorian appearance. Finally the original Victorian fireplace was restored and a stunning new balcony to the rear of the building completes the picture.

Award Winning Barn Conversion

The 200 year old disused barn at Village Farm situated in a conservation area in the heart of a village in North Yorkshire provided another challenge. The hand made clamped brick barn was in a poor state of repair and it took skill and imagination to turn it into a family home.

In order to keep the original character of the barn we reused and restored as many existing features as possible. The original roof trusses, for example, were cleaned and restored before returning them to the upper floor of the barn.

Our client wanted to incorporate a new garden room. To make sure it blended in perfectly with the existing building we sourced matching reclaimed bricks and reused slate roofing tiles from the original structure. We took this one stage further and used the clever roof design to erect an impressive oak double quarter winder staircase which leads to a studio and study.

Our latest project – Holiday Cottages North Yorkshire

The brief

To convert a listed 19th century stone into two holiday cottages. The finished renovations to be energy efficient, warm and comfortable throughout the year.

What we are doing

The first stages of renovating the traditional barn and farm buildings include re-pointing and renovating the original 18th Century stone and bricks to 'match' the original barn. Where possible existing roof timbers are to be re-used and replacements, if necessary, will be similar form to the originals.

To retain the character of the original building Rose Cottage will have a vaulted ceiling over the original renovated roof trusses. Original brick feeding troughs will be retained. Granary Cottage will feature an original brick dovecote and renovated Oak roof timbers. Thresher's Barn will have a vaulted ceiling with galleried landing.

Eco properties are not always new builds! Using Kent Building Developments experience of using the most effective eco features, all the properties will be energy efficient. Insulation of all three properties will exceed minimum building regulation requirements. Under floor heating to ground and first floors means the finished cottages will be warm, comfortable and energy efficient. Heating and Hot water to each cottage is provided by solar panels with additional back up from an air source heat pump when required.

Cast iron gas stoves to the holiday accommodation and a multi fuel burner to the owners' cottage will provide additional heating, although it is expected they will not generally be needed.

For the latest on Rose Cottage, Granary Cottage and Threshers Barn.

Builders of Bespoke Properties - Energy Efficient Homes - Barn Conversions - Planning & Design - Commercial Renovations