Bath & North East Somerset - Class Q Replacement Dwelling

Key Skills: Planning Application

Category: Residential Development

Conversion of Agricultural Building to Residential

Prior Approval - Class Q application

Green Belt

Agricultural permitted development

Barn Conversion

LPA: Bath & North East Somerset Council

The Project

Our client purchased an agricultural building that already had the benefit of a Class Q permission however the conversion was poorly designed and didn’t take full advantage of its setting or the volume of the existing building. Following positive pre-application advice we have submitted an application for full planning permission, using case law as an argument, to replace the permitted barn conversion in the Green Belt with a modern dwelling that maximises accommodation within the limitations of Green Belt policy.

Working with Tea Architects Ltd the dwelling has been designed to sit lightly in the landscape, balancing bold contemporary architecture with a respectful nod to the site’s heritage— featuring local stone, timber cladding, and crisp detailing throughout. Flat green roofs and a staggered, single-storey form help the dwelling nestle into the hillside, while large south-facing openings maximise daylight and passive solar gain.

A structurally insulated panel (SIP) build ensures excellent thermal performance, and the home will be entirely net zero in operation—thanks to a carefully considered combination of energy efficiency, renewables, and sustainable construction methods.

We eagerly await the outcome of the planning application.