D.Hall Plant Hire & Groundworks were contracted by a private client in Liskeard, Cornwall to undertake comprehensive groundworks for a Class Q barn conversion project.
The scope of work was to convert the disused agricultural barn into 3 properties under a Class Q conversion which attracts VAT @ 5%!
Class Q is a form of permitted development allowing for the conversion of agricultural buildings to residential use for up to a maximum of 5 dwellings.
The barn was around 185m2, and the client had made good progress by removing all the internal fittings prior to our arrival and had made a good start on lowering the floor.
Our Works Included the Following:
- Supplying our welfare unit to comply with CDM regulations.
- Cutting and removing the concrete wall to the east gable.
- Cutting and removing the concrete wall and buttress to the west gable.
- Cutting back and squaring up existing concrete stanchions, which were to be left intact.
- Breaking out and removing the existing concrete foundation to the perimeter edge.
- Drainage works to all 3 properties, including inspection chambers.
- Installation of a 12-person sewage treatment plant at a depth of over 4m.
- Encasing sewage treatment plant in concrete and installation of concrete rings due to depth.
- Ducting for electricity, water & the sewage treatment plant.
- Installation of ducting for chimney flue.
- Checking levels internally with a laser level.
- Importation of fill and compaction across the whole area to the correct levels.
- Digging foundations for internal walls at various widths.
- Cement render to the entire perimeter edge and stanchions to provide a smooth surface before applying x1 coat of RIW blackjack & Visqueen tanking membrane.
- Installation of x3 radon sumps and pipework.
- 50mm of concrete blinding across the whole area, including the foundations, as per the structural engineer's drawings.
- Recasting of the foundation across the east and west gable walls.
- Visqueen Radon membrane.
- A252 reinforcing mesh with L bars tied to the mesh.
- 150mm of C40 concrete in the new floor slab. This is to receive insulation and screed at a later date by others.
- Supply and install shuttering to form upstand to the perimeter of the building and pouring of concrete.
- Leave the site tidy and clear ready for the next trades to start.
Whilst we had our 13T Excavator & 9Ton Dumper on site, the client also asked us to dig down one side of the barn and trim the batters. This opened the area up massively, which will give access to the doors down the side of the barn, which would have been dug out a lot later in the project.
Before & After Groundworks Photos
Follow the Project Progress
You can follow the client's progress on Instagram: @no4_thebarn
Need Class Q Groundworks in Cornwall?
Thinking about converting an agricultural building into residential properties? D Hall Plant Hire & Groundworks Ltd specialises in Class Q conversions and barn conversion groundworks across Cornwall and Devon. From foundations to drainage, we handle every aspect of your project.
