South Tresamble Farm

An ambitious plan by third generation farmers to convert a redundant and dilapidated barn complex at Gwennap into four new homes. Gwennap is a small village, five miles south of Redruth in Cornwall. Best known for its mining history, it was once dubbed “the richest square mile in the Old World”.

With farm subsidies falling away, the applicants were looking at alternative uses for some of their assets to generate additional income. The expansive range of quality stone barns, built around a concrete courtyard, had fallen into disrepair, and were unsuitable for accommodating livestock or machinery.

Our design proposal involved demolishing and replacing the blockwork and open-fronted metal buildings, and converting and extending the stone barns to create three three-bedroomed houses, one with a linked office, as well as a more modest one-bedroomed home.

Our planners negotiated with the council on matters regarding protected species, neighbouring impacts, and highways access, and secured planning approval within nine weeks.

All of the buildings have been designed to a high quality specification, using only locally-sourced materials sympathetic to the site and its rural surroundings.