Our Buildings in the Landscape project provides financial and professional support for obtaining both planning and building regulations approvals for the conversion of redundant buildings of historic or landscape value in West Penwith, and which could provide a beneficial economic impact on existing farming units. We are thrilled that the project has helped convert a barn to provide specialist support accommodation for autistic adults, who will also have the opportunity to be on the farm and around the farm animals with support workers present, with the aim of providing a relaxing and educating rural environment.
The recently converted barn at Chytodden Farm is being managed by Spectrum, who provide specialist, autism-specific care for autistic adults and children. The project was the idea of Geoffrey Hollow, a fourth generation farmer at Chytodden Farm, as a result of his positive experience of autistic and additional needs adults working on the farm, and as a possible re-use of a redundant traditional farm building near the farm complex.
Geoffrey Hollow said of the project, “Having the help of autistic adults 
working with us on the farm has been so rewarding, seeing how much they thoroughly enjoyed and got engaged with farming activities. This then gave me the thought about reusing our redundant barn to provide tailored accommodation for Spectrum, which would also provide a positive diversification for the wider farm business at Chytodden.”
The work on Chytodden Farm was a pilot scheme for the Buildings in the Landscape, and helped create the supporting case for the PLP to obtain funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funders. While there is no capital funding available, the project was able to provide financial support for the planning and building regulations stages of the work, as well as advice and support from James Evans, our Project officer for Buildings in the Landscape. James said, “I am so proud of the project, which helps to identify the value of the Buildings in the Landscape to act as catalyst for the delivery of such a valuable re-use of a redundant and derelict building. Since the full project started last year we have helped fund a number of other barn conversion schemes for farm diversification projects through the planning building regulation processes.” The images above right show the building before and after conversion.
Also key to this work was the support of Farm Cornwall, who helped obtain LEADER funding for the project to continue. We are really proud of the results of this work, and further grants and planning support are available for the conversion of other redundant Penwith farm buildings. Any Penwith farm owners who are considering a possible conversion project should contact James Evans, our Buildings in the Landscape project officer on james@evansplanning.co.uk. You can also read more about Buildings in the Landscape here.
