The situation
A landowner in Sandhurst had already tried twice to secure planning permission to convert a redundant agricultural storage building into a home, and been refused both times, once by the council and once on appeal.
The approach
Batcheller Monkhouse took a different tack: rather than proposing a replacement building, the plan was to convert the existing barn, preserving its rural character and respecting its setting near several heritage buildings nearby. Sustained, positive engagement with planning officers throughout the process helped shape a scheme the council could support, including the removal of a significant area of hardstanding left over from the building’s agricultural and storage use.
The outcome
Consent was granted within the standard eight-week timeframe for minor applications, a striking turnaround given the site’s history of two previous refusals, and delivered a unique, contemporary home from a building that would otherwise have remained redundant.
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