Welcome to Bamford Planning Ltd. We are a planning consultancy focused on rural development and special in Barn Conversions. One way to convert a barn into a home is to use permitted development rights. Class Q is the name given to the permitted development right to convert agricultural buildings into dwellings which have been with us since 2014.

What is Class Q

Class Q sits within the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and allows the change of use of an agricultural building to a dwelling, subject to a prior approval process.

In practical terms, this means that the principle of residential development is established and the local planning authority focuses on a defined set of technical matters such as access, design, flooding, contamination and noise.

Converting an enclosed modern shed in the middle of the countryside to up to 10 dwellings generally does not accord with Local Plan policies and as such is met with opposition in many councils. As such, in most cases, an application is carefully scrutinised to make sure it fits the criteria.

Since the permitted development right was introduced there have been several notable appeal decisions that have altered and clarified how Class Q applications should be dealt with by an Authority.

Is there guidance on Class Q

The National Planning Practice Guidance is often updated to reflect significant decisions (such as high court decisions) and attempts to provide some clarity on the works permissible by Class Q. The underlying principle is that the agricultural building in question is capable of functioning as a dwelling in it’s existing state and permits building operations that are necessary in order to convert the building into a dwelling. This includes the installation of windows, doors, exterior walls, electricity and other services that are reasonably necessary in order for the building to function as a dwelling. Required rebuilding or structural improvements are not permitted.

Permitted development rights can appear overwhelming and off-putting, especially Class Q, when considering how awkward the legislation is worded but, in many cases, Class Q is the best way of achieving your dream home in the open countryside. T

That may involve a planning application, but equally it could be permitted development under Class Q, a Green Belt case built around existing policy support, or a longer term land promotion strategy. The key is aligning the planning route with the your objective.

If it is clear that there is no route to achieving permission we will be honest. We always advise on the risks of an application at the start.

How Long Does Class Q Last?

With a Class Q, the applicant has three years to complete the conversion. With full planning permission, the applicant has 3 years in which to start the conversion, and once started can take as long as it takes to complete it. Finishing a build of this scale within 3 years can be very difficult for a lot of projects. Delays in materials and trades persons can all make a Class Q build very stressful. Full Planning helps to mitigate some of this..

Can I Convert My Barn?

There are certain areas where Class Q permitted development rights cannot be used, such as within areas of outstanding natural beauty, World Heritage Sites and conservation areas (not exhaustive). Barns that are listed are also exempt.

The barn or agricultural building must have been erected for agricultural use. Under the Class Q regulations, you have to limit the conversion to the envelope of the existing building; no significant outward extensions are allowed. There are other conditions and limitations that need to be adhered to as well, the key one being that the building must be structurally sound and ‘capable of conversion’. This almost always requires the input of a structural engineer to assess the building’s structure. A rule of thumb is that if it looks as though it is about to fall over with the next strong winds, it probably isn’t going to be possible to convert it.

Class Q and building re use

The short answer is yes. The application process is meant to be accessible to anyone. You can submit online via the Planning Portal or through a paper submission. Your local authority will inform you of their specific requirements. If you meet these criteria then you submit an application called a prior approval application to convert the barn and wait 56 days for the decision.

Do you still have questions?

We are here to help please use the enquiry form below to tell us a little bit about your project and we will get back to you.