Serving Windermere, the Lake District and surrounding areas
Old farm buildings are part of the Lakeland landscape. We convert barns and outbuildings into homes, holiday lets and studios, keeping the stone, timber and proportions that make them worth saving.
A barn is not a blank shell. Thick stone walls, deep openings, original beams and long roof lines are what give these buildings their appeal, so the work starts with understanding what is there and what should stay. Where something has to change, we aim to do it so the building still reads as a barn from the lane.
Lakeland barns come with practical challenges: damp in old stone, uneven floors, limited natural light and walls that were never built to be insulated. We deal with these properly, using breathable materials and sensible detailing so the building stays dry and warm without losing its character.
Most conversions need planning permission, and many need a protected species survey before work begins, as barns are often used by bats and nesting birds. Within the National Park, design and materials are looked at closely. We help with the process from the first meeting so that surveys, drawings and approvals do not hold up the build.
A converted barn that will be let to guests has its own requirements. It counts as non-domestic premises, so it needs a fire risk assessment, and we plan escape routes, alarms, fire-stopping and doors to keep the property compliant as well as comfortable.
Full conversions, restorations and sympathetic extensions.
Barn-to-home conversions
Holiday let and guest accommodation conversions
Studios, annexes and home offices
Stone repair, repointing and lime work
Roof repair, reslating and timber restoration
New windows, glazing and door openings in character
Insulation, damp control and underfloor heating
Planning, surveys and building control support
A look at the structure, condition, setting and any protected species issues.
Drawings, planning, bat and bird surveys, and building control, including fire and access requirements.
A build sequence that fits the seasons, the weather and any survey windows.
Structure, roof and envelope first, then services and fit-out, with the site kept safe and tidy.
Certificates, manuals and a finished building ready to live in or let.
Usually, yes. Within the Lake District National Park, planning rules are strict and each building is assessed on its own merits. We can advise on what is likely to be needed before you commit.
Often. Old barns are popular roosts and nesting sites, and protected species must be considered before work starts. Surveys can only be carried out at certain times of year, so it helps to plan early.
In most cases, yes. We repair and reuse original stone, timber and slate wherever we can, and match new materials carefully where we cannot.
Often, subject to planning and any occupancy conditions on the property. A let barn also needs a fire risk assessment, and we plan the work to meet those requirements.
Talk to Lakes Construction and arrange a free quotation.