This portal framed barn is now a sensational grand design thanks to great architects and a crack team

The transformation of a relatively modern, steel portal framed agricultural barn into a sensational home was a great success with no issues and all because they employed the very best professionals to design and build the property.

“We joke that TV’s Grand Designs wouldn’t have been interested in this place because there was no drama,” says Adam.

Their self-build journey began when a family friend mentioned she was planning to sell a barn with Class Q planning permission. Class Q is a relatively recent form of consent that allows conversion of agricultural buildings into residential dwellings.

At the same time, Adam and Helaina had each sold their homes and were looking for something they could buy together.

“We were struggling because Helaina wanted a new-build and I preferred old cottages. We had never thought about self-building until we heard about this barn but we thought it would be a mix of new and rustic that we could agree on,” says Adam, who adds: “It also felt like it was meant to be, from the family friend mentioning it to finding a really good builder.”

The latter was Matthew Graham of Calderdale Builders. He and Adam had been good friends at school but hadn’t seen each other in years until they bumped into each other in a pub and got chatting.

He agreed to be the main contractor on the conversion and Adam also recruited his brother, who is a plasterer, and his friend who is an electrician, to create what shaped up to be a crack team.

Perhaps more importantly, he and Helaina had dismissed the design that won planning permission and engaged the dynamic duo at award-winning Fibre Architects, Design Director Michael Owens and Managing Director Martin Booker, to come up with a better one.

The result far exceeded the Oldfield’s expectations and has given them a beautiful, light-filled home that looks and feels perfect.

“Our clients had a very clear idea that they wanted to achieve something special with this barn and we worked closely with them to

develop a number of concept design options,” says Martin.

Planning approval was needed for the radical changes and was granted. Fibre then liaised with Adam and Helaina to make sure the design included very detailed drawings to ensure that a high-quality end product was achieved at build stage.

Fibre also worked closely with the builder from start to completion, with regular site attendances to discuss and agree the finest of details necessary to make the project a complete success.

The design involved the full use of the entire internal space to create a ground and first floor with standout features including a large double-height kitchen/dining/living space, an internal balcony and a fully glazed gable overlooking the south-facing garden.

On the ground floor there is an entrance/cloakroom, the aforementioned double height living kitchen, a utility room, a large sitting area, three bedrooms including one with ensuite, plus a house bathroom. On the first floor is an ensuite bedroom plus a laundry and office space.

The barn was re-roofed with insulated composite metal panels, and re-clad with high levels of insulation and timber cladding.

New thermally efficient double-glazed windows were installed throughout with large sliding doors opening up onto the garden area. Insulation was maximised wherever possible to ensure fuel bills could be kept to a minimum.

One of the most spectacular ideas from Fibre was the internal bridge/walkway, which overlooks the central living space and links the first-floor main bedroom and study area to the aforementioned gallery which overlooks the living kitchen.

“Fibre were fantastic in every way. They project managed the conversion and we wanted them to do it plus it was also a condition of our lender,” says Adam.

He and Heleina used Handelsbanken, a Swedish bank that now operates in Britain. It releases cash in tranches as each stage of the project is approved. It has become a favourite lender with self-builders who often struggle to borrow from mainstream banks.

The only couple of hiccups were worries over a shortage of plaster during the pandemic and disappointing air source heat pumps.

“We heard there was some plaster at a suppliers in Wakefield but bags were limited to ten per person,” says Adam. “So my whole family got in their cars and went down en masse and bought as many as they could and that saw us through.”

After deciding to have air source heat pumps, Heleina and Adam were less than impressed with the heat output and the cost to run them.

“We wanted to be eco-friendly but in the end we took the heat pumps out and installed an Arada ecoburn 5 wood-burning stove to keep us warm,” says Adam, who is a director at www.stovesareus.co.uk, which has stores in Elland and Bamber Bridge.

The main build costs were £250,000 and the couple also splashed out a Tom Howley kitchen on the basis that it would last for decades.

“We also borrowed some furniture from my mum and we are slowly replacing it as we can afford to,” says Adam, who adds: “We love the barn and the design of it is way beyond our expectations. It works and it looks and feels amazing.”

*Fibre Architects, www.fibrearchitects.co.uk. Stoveareus, www.stovesareus.co.uk. Visit Adam and Helaina’s Instagram @TheYorkshirebarn.