Cute country barn going to auction with planning to create a rural holiday retreat

A stone barn, once renovated and converted, that will welcome tourists to this beautiful area of Wales

Finding an empty rural barn nestled within a stunning landscape that is ripe for conversion can be a challenge as, over the years, they have been snapped up and transformed into homes. To find a barn that comes with planning permission already in place to allow the conversion as well, is even rarer.

This cute, characterful stone barn sits in a pocket of rural peace near the village of Pant-y-Dwr in the rolling Powys countryside, between Rhayader and Llanidloes, and close to the truly beautiful Elan Valley. 

Look out from any spot at this renovation project and the glorious views envelope you with stunning vistas that you will never get tired of seeing, watching the weather develop and descend and the seasons pass-by, changing the landscape views accordingly, from spring flowering to autumn falling.

The barn is hidden down a quiet, country lane away from any main roads, and many might think the perfect spot for a rural retreat. In 2019 the barn had planning approval for 'the renovation and conversion of the existing barn into tourist accommodation, to include the installation of a package treatment plant, erection of an extension and garage store and all associated works'.

As well as consent conditions attached to the approval, documentation on Powys County Council's planning hub states that the development 'shall be occupied as holiday accommodation only and shall not be occupied as a person's sole or main place of residence by any persons'. 

As part of this holiday let planning approval, an up-to-date register needs to be kept at the holiday accommodation and be made available for inspection by the local planning authority upon request. The register shall contain details of the names of all of the occupiers of the accommodation, their main home addresses and their date of arrival and departure from the accommodation.

The planning application 19/0394/FUL states that the development to which this permission relates shall be begun no later than the expiration of five years from the date of the granted permission, and does not allow the demolition and rebuilding of the building. According to the auction house, work has already been started by the current owner, who has carried out extensive groundworks and tree surgery in preparation for full work on the barn to commence.

This current onsite work by the owner includes the barn's own new water supply and electricity supply, which has cost in excess of £20,000. The architect plans, designed by Hayston Development and Planning, are for a two-bedroom accommodation including the construction of two, single-storey extensions, one at the rear for a dining room and one to the side that welcomes a galley kitchen.

There's a shower room at the centre of the floorplan, with a lounge at the far end featuring a log burner on a raised hearth and exposed stone walls. On the first floor two double bedrooms are joined by a landing linen cupboard and a built-in cupboard in bedroom two.

The charming barn is going to auction with a guide price of £59,000 with Paul Fosh Auctions in its online sale which starts from 12 noon on Tuesday, January 31 and ends Thursday, February 2 at 5pm. For further information about the approved plans and the online auction call the auctioneers on 01633 254044.

Story by Joanne Ridout via WalesOnline. Click here for the full story