Carter Jonas, the national property consultancy, has secured Class Q prior approval from Sedgemoor District Council to convert a modern agricultural building in Somerset, to residential.

Class Q is a type of permitted development right that allows the change of use of an agricultural building to a dwelling provided the existing structure can bear the load of the development works needed to for its conversion. The approach was clarified by High Court Judgement of Hibbitt and another v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and another.

The barn is constructed of a steel portal frame with a concrete floor and part-concrete block, part-timber clad walls. The structural aspects of the frame, roof and concrete walls will be retained, but the building will be transformed into a new five-bedroom family house incorporating a double garage.

The proposal was to remove and replace the timber cladding and install window and doors. The timber cladding does not form part of the structure of the barn and only provides weather screening. The proposal also includes the demolition of a bay to reduce the size of the overall barn to ensure it complies with the size restrictions set out in the legislation.

Nicola Palfrey, senior surveyor, Carter Jonas, said: “Class Q permitted development rights provide farmers and landowners with opportunities to add value to their sites and create additional residential accommodation. Many applications of this type have been refused by Local Authorities on the grounds that the proposal involves extensive rebuilding and goes well beyond what could reasonably be described as a conversion.

“It was necessary to submit a structural report to prove the works proposed did not go beyond these parameters, but this approval proves that Class Q prior notification still applies to modern agricultural buildings subject to the design and structural stability. However, there is still an element of postcode lottery as to whether a local authority will approve a conversion.”