McCormick Architecture has gained planning permission for the
conversion of a redundant rural barn at Littleton Old Hall to an
eco-friendly office building. The new design uses the existing
agricultural barn as its outer shell, with a new independent inner
structure providing 833 square metres of modern office space.
The innovative, sustainable design of the new building has a
number of interesting energy-saving features, including solar
panels on its roof, heating from ground-source heat pumps,
sustainable sheep's wool insulation and rainwater recycling. Visual
impact on the surrounding countryside is kept to a minimum with
large wooden shutters which are part of the fabric of the original
building helping to camouflage the building's windows as well as
providing shade.
Said Sean McCormick, Director, McCormick Architecture, "We are
delighted that this exciting small office scheme has been given the
go-ahead. Chester City Council's Planning Board supported the aims
of the scheme in giving an alternative use to a redundant rural
building that will provide employment to support the rural economy,
whilst keeping the character of the original building and not
significantly affecting the openness of the Green Belt."
Commented Marc Hourigan of planning consultants Colliers CRE,
also involved in the planning application, "In essence, the
development of this redundant agricultural building for employment
is appropriate for the countryside. It's an excellent re-use of a
building that makes very little contribution to either the built
environment or the rural economy at present."
Construction work on the barn development is expected to begin
in early 2008.