Period change of use

[FamilyWiggs]

Ok - so we have some rather nice (to us) outbuildings - probably 120 feet or more. Probably 1800s at one end and older at the other. Random rubble walls, some nice lanslits, external stone staircase, cart arch and nice roof beams. They've been used for most of their life as cattle stalls for wintering and a cart shed with presumably hayloft above. I guess they are fairly typical for this part of North Wales.

We'd like to bring them back into use - as extra residential accommodation; nothing fancy - a guest room for the occasional visitor we have, loo, garage in cartshed, TV/cinema room and at one end a nice indoor pool. (Did I mention this was a 20 year project?!)

Before we start, there is some urgent structural stuff to be done to the older/nicer end - not much of a roof above the cartshed, and a section of about 20 feet of the front wall is seriously bowing out (dangerously so) as it is not tied into the internal walls. It'll need to come down and be rebuilt/tied in - which'll be interesting given the roof is OK above this section and will need propping during the works.

Before we see to that, we need to know what sort of change of use/permission we'd need for our longer-term plans. If we're unlikely to get it, then it would alter the scale of repair works we'd undertake first. None of our place is listed/in any type of conservation area.

Are any of the collected wise folk of PPUK able to advise on change of use issues? Any other thoughts?

Thanks

Robin

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Sounds like "ancillary to the purpose of the dwelling house" to me, and therefore Permitted Development, as long as it shares a facility with the house (ie, no kitchen) and isn't too far away from the house so that it could too easily become one in its own right. The extent of the alterations needed may bring it into the realms of planning control though.

Erm, "lanslits"? :?

 

[LadyArowana]

Not sure how user friendly your local authority planning portal is, but that can be very useful in researching what type of things get permissions. You might find someone who has successfully done a similar scheme.

 

[middi]

As the buildings aready exist, change of use to living accomodation should be just a matter of apllying for it with the relevant plans and will be subject to building control.

What else can you do with such buildings. ( unless you buy a few cows and a couple of pigs )

Middi

 

[Feltwell]

at one end a nice indoor pool. (Did I mention this was a 20 year project?!)

Hmm - you're about the same age as me I believe, Mr Wiggs. So this is a 20 year project eh? Well, that means it'll take at least 40 - better budget for one of those poolside cranes they use to get those with restricted mobility in and out I reckon! :wink:

Anyway, why an indoor pool? An outdoor one would be so much more bracing. Honestly, anyone would think you lived halfway up a Welsh mountain or something.....

 

[Moo]

A distant member of our family had a rather swish indoor pool that he was very glad to leave behind. He told us it cost as much to run as a small three-bedroomed house.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, I love plans and projects like this, Wiggsy. I have a swimming pool plan too.

I hope your good wife has seen sense then, and realised your fine animals must overwinter in the house?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Thanks guys - guess we get some prper plans drawn up and just apply for change of use. Would they need to be "proper" drawings or just indicative sketches/descriptions for a change of use application?

Joce - the pigs are not scheduled to last long enough to need overwintering.... :lol:

Hughesey - I thought they were the nice narrow windows we had...

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Anyway, why an indoor pool? An outdoor one would be so much more bracing. Honestly, anyone would think you lived halfway up a Welsh mountain or something.....

Well, the *dream* project has a nice oak/glass extension that can be opened so part of the pool is inside and part outside, with one of those infinity illusions over the side of the hill.

In reality, it'll be a 5-foot circular blow-up pool from Argos!

 

[Feltwell]

In reality, it'll be a 5-foot circular blow-up pool from Argos!

That's the trouble with reality - it's so, erm, realistic - pipe dreaming* is much more fun.

* which apparently comes from the "dreams" experienced by opium smokers. At least according to that well known infallible source, t'internet. I can say I learnt at least one new thing today.

* See most threads by me that involve spending money.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

lancets

 

[FamilyWiggs]

lancets

Hmmm... not sure it is one of those. That's too pretty!

I thought I'd read in one of my books on vernacular Welsh buildings that it was a contraction of light-slit or something similar. Maybe I'm just making it up though... :roll:

 

[Moo]

In reality, it'll be a 5-foot circular blow-up pool from Argos!

In which case you'll have to have a circular cover. In which case (if you're anything like us) you won't be punctilious about covering the pool when it's not in use. In which case you'll spend a lot of time rescuing birds, bees and other insects from drowning, or fishing the corpses out of the pool.

I speak from experience!

though our (inherited) pool was about 20ft diameter.