Barn conversion to holiday lets

[Chris F]

Question cam in via email this morning:

It would cost approx. £125000 to convert a 9 x 7 barn in to 2, 2 bedroom holiday lets . I'm a farmer of 58 years and use the barn at the moment as a work shop.

Would i qualify for a diversification grant and what are the steps

I've point them to the thread so hopefully they will be able to get the hang of TFF and reply themselves in due course.

Is this a regionally thing, I don't remember any grants in Cornwall?

 

[Still Farming]

Sometimes councils offer grants or tourist boards but the amount of quotes and hoops you got to do and jump through it is best done yourself !

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Leader are offering grants in some areas, where is the OP location?

 

[foxbox]

Leader are offering grants in some areas, where is the OP location?

Yep, depending upon area Leader grants can offer up to 40% of costs to complete the project. There are hoops along the way but only ones you agree to at the outset and in my experience for this type of development they're not too onerous (things like a certain number of nights occupied per year etc.)

 

[Still Farming]

Yep, depending upon area Leader grants can offer up to 40% of costs to complete the project. There are hoops along the way but only ones you agree to at the outset and in my experience for this type of development they're not too onerous (things like a certain number of nights occupied per year etc.)

If only ?
Not down here !

 

[suffolksmallholder]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rural-development-programme-for-england-leader-funding
Worth a 'phone call eh!
If you can 'do' some of the prior work to keep the costs down. ie, digging in the drains to the required spec, water, any footings that are required to underpin the structure, strip & re-cover the roof using modern insulation & a good roofer to re-instate, re-clad the outside again using the current or 'more than' the required insulation. Work up a scale drawing pror to it being digitised, so you'll have to measure everything carefully here. This may guide you to where the windows will be sited. I do know that planners are quite keen on a barn conversion continuing to look like a barn conversion so just putting windows in as you would do for a house won't gain any favours.
Think how you're going to heat this, me I'd go for as simple as possible so electric underfloor. No servicing/landlords certs in a small place. Win-win situation. If you've got the right insulation & fenestration it really does the job. The underfloor slab it a huge storage heater so if there's a powercut the heat isn't lost.
No cheapskate work here but simply hard work getting everything RIGHT & you'll have a nice build which will attract the top end of visitor.
At 58 you'll need to get help to do this work & this is where the 'management' starts. IMO this is probably the hardest part as @nick... knows! He's the most up-to-date-farmer-builder
SS