Old brick barn business ideas

[Jz2017]

Morning all. Currently stuck with ideas on future of traditional farm buildings. They are in good condition but just fed up of them looking a mess and not earning anything. Apart from conversion into houses what other things have people done with them? There listed so therefore can’t knock them down unfortunately. Without selling them off and relocating the modern buildings I’m looking for ideas. Thanks

 

[B R C]

What sizes are they, courtyard style or stand alone barns? Limited options really Offices cost a lot, my thoughts would be units for a more artisan tenant such as woodworking, crafts etc. I have a couple of upholsterers in one unit, my wife does soft furnishings in another. Nice and clean and quiet.

 

[Goweresque]

Due to Class Q my feeling is there's a dearth of small business units around now. Certainly around here just about every redundant farm yard has been or is in the process of being converted to housing. Thats a lot of sheds no longer available for storage or small businesses. Obviously would depend on your location of course, Class Q only applies to England.

 

[George from SJM Planning]

If you would prefer not to go to Class Q (maybe tricky on a listed barn anyway) then there are other classes in the GPDO for Permitted Development to other uses that may suit your environment and the preservation of the listed buildings. Maybe light industrial, commercial, storage or even educational uses.

 

[Jz2017]

They are courtyard style with farmhouse at the front. My friend converted all his to houses and sold them but keeping the farmhouse, he has had a lot of issues. Size wise there would be 3 5 bed houses and 1 3 bed single story. That’s how I’d measure there size. What would it cost to convert to offices?

 

[George from SJM Planning]

They are courtyard style with farmhouse at the front. My friend converted all his to houses and sold them but keeping the farmhouse, he has had a lot of issues. Size wise there would be 3 5 bed houses and 1 3 bed single story. That’s how I’d measure there size. What would it cost to convert to offices?

Unless you went in for planning they would all need to be single storey for Class Q as you can't include adding a floor. This can be done at a later date though or by applying for Class Q and then using that as a fallback position for a full application.

 

[delilah]

Easy to say from a distance because it wont be the most lucrative option, but I would love to see such buildings rented out specifically to businesses with a rural angle. Food processing, woodworking, wool processing, cider making, etc etc anything that adds value to our basic outputs. Desperately important to preserve and revitalize the skills.

 

[teslacoils]

I'm in a similar situation. Not listed though, phew. Sadly, most of the conversion options are not economic at all. So in the end I can patch it up for the future, or take it down and sell the bricks & slates.

Conversion costs for houses or offices are just appalling. Don't want a load of folk living next to me. And the return is worse than buying a house in Greece to live in during winter, and letting out in summer.

 

[Jz2017]

It’s all really frustrating, farmhouse needs a few hundred spent on it, the listed buildings mean I can’t knock them down, converting them would be close to a million for housing, siblings will need paying out one day and it just seems it will have to be sold, I mean times have to change we can’t keep running these old houses forever just because they are listed. Has anyone had any luck de-listing a house or building?

 

[teslacoils]

Has anyone had any luck de-listing a house or building?

The "private eye nooks & crannies" method I believe involves some miscreants; can of petrol; swan vestas.

 

[B R C]

I feel your frustration, try and build a business plan for the whole site to generate income for the future, short term pain for long term gain. Last resort sell, it’s tough to start with if you spend some money first takes a while to get some back but gradually gets easier as the income gets larger as more units get rented out if that is the way you want to go. Not my business but possibly pay out siblings now if that is a possibility then move it the farm forward?

 

[I still farm]

I'd echo @B R C .
If you spend and get an income coming in then you can re-invest, once you've got one in and renting no matter what it is , the you've started and from there it's funny how opportunities seem easier and improve everything. I have a silent sibling too, and it's not easy. I'm always asking how is it benefitting me, am I benefitting anyone else? If it's the latter how can it be quantified. Tricky

 

[Doing it for the kids]

It’s all really frustrating, farmhouse needs a few hundred spent on it, the listed buildings mean I can’t knock them down, converting them would be close to a million for housing, siblings will need paying out one day and it just seems it will have to be sold, I mean times have to change we can’t keep running these old houses forever just because they are listed. Has anyone had any luck de-listing a house or building?

aka the poison challis.

its hard to delist but it is possible.

depending on location commercial is a possibility, you need to do a review of the whole enterprise and see what you can rustle up