Barn Conversion - Nissen Hut
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It isn’t very often when Nissen Hut conversions come across your desk but when they do….it’s a real pleasure.
Nissen Huts were used extensively in World War 2 as make shift buildings used for a variety of purposes including mess huts, sleeping accommodation and offices. Most of these buildings have either been converted, fallen into disrepair or have simply disappeared.
On this occasion our client had already secured permission from the Local Planning Authority under part Q of the GDPO (Permitted Development Rights). We were brought onboard to undertake the technical design and obtain Building Regulation Approval and to consider minor amendments to the approved scheme.
Achieving Building Regulation approval is certainly more challenging with the recent changes in the Building Regulations however being a conversion, Part L of the Regulations are less stringent than if the building were to be a new build dwelling. The greatest challenge is ensuring the building can be improved structurally and prevent interstitial condensation being a particular risk with a tin roofed building. The structural challenge is twofold in that to fall within part Q Permitted Development Rights, the building must be capable of conversion without significant structural alterations.
The client had requested a number of relatively minor alterations to the apertures. Since the building fell within the Permitted Development Rights of Part Q, the introduction of new apertures would mean that the building would depart from the original structure and wouldn’t fall under Part Q. The alterations would therefore mean that a full Planning Application would have been required along with the inherent risk of a refusal due to local Planning Policy not to mention the additional cost.
The path of least resistance – we analysed the building layout and were able to reconfigure the internal space to achieve the client’s requirements without altering the external fabric and apertures of the building. This meant the building continued to comply with the Permitted Development Rights and could be built without the need of any new Planning Application saving time and cost.
Construction is due to commence in 2025, RTA will be following progress and we’ll be reporting it here, watch this space!
