Gloucestershire Barn Conversion Nears Completion

The construction team are progressing very well on the conversion of the barns to residential units despite the weather doing its best to upset the situation - rain, frost and even more rain! Currently the oak cladding is being fitted. The turf has been laid in the garden and the boundary fences installed. Overall it’s a wonderful transformation. We will post some photos (showing ‘before’ and ‘after’) of the finished article soon. 

From a planning viewpoint we have made various applications over the last few weeks ranging from new houses to student accommodation. 

We have also been appointed by a client who resides in Spain with a holiday home in London, who wants to extend and refurbish the London property.  I shall keep you posted on the planning progress. Once again this reinforces what I have said before that distance should not be viewed as an obstacle to using our services.

Another new project  further reinforces the multi-national nature of our clients. The design team are currently compiling scheme drawings for the European Equestrian Centre and Offices of a Colorado-based company.  This is an exciting scheme which we are very proud to be involved with and includes an indoor Olympic-sized arena and a 40-box stable block. We are working closely with the project management team and client to ensure that the scheme can be constructed within budget and suitable to obtain the relevant planning and building control permissions.

Negotiations are also underway in connection with securing a 90 bed nursing home for a client which is a new build scheme on a brownfield site.

I had a very encouraging email from the chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance (http://hoa.org.uk/) confirming that they support my views regarding the reduction in the rate of VAT and have written an open letter to the Housing Minister setting out their thoughts.  I notice the e-petition I started now has seven signatures so many thanks to those who have taken time to sign it.  The petition can be found at:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/39637

As a new year starts lets hope it’s prosperous for all.  It will be interesting to see what ideas the Government comes up with to try and help give a much needed lift to the economy.  The previous tinkering with the planning system does not appear to have done much.