We were delighted to be appointed in mid-2017 to convert a landmark barn in Crai.  The village is home to less than 300 people and is situated in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park, a place of outstanding natural beauty.  The barn has always featured in promotional work for the village and two previous potential purchasers almost commissioned us as architects for this property over the last 8 years; finally, we made it!

The barn’s location within a national park brings both benefits and challenges.  Whilst set in a stunning location, the requirement for stringent adherence to planning guidelines has proven to be a difficulty for many architects.

Thanks to our local knowledge, we have developed a successful track record in our planning applications with Brecon Beacons National Park Council, and this project is no different! The planning authority tells us that this barn is the first of its kind within the national park, becoming the barn with the most roof glazing to ever gain planning approval.

For this project, we co-ordinated and submitted the planning application involving an ecological survey, and a self-contained sewage treatment plant and its discharge back into a stream.  We also provided a full set of construction information including door and window schedules and special interior design details for services and lighting and managed the tendering process for works.