Conversion Survey

on Barn @ Old Merrose Farm, Tehidy, , , TR14 0HN

Name and Address of Client: Mr D Barrand Old Merrose Farm Tehidy Camborne Cornwall TR14 0HN

Date of Inspection: 17th November 2020

Surveyor: Christopher M. Gunn BSc MRICS The Old Parlour Polgear Cornwall TR16 6NF

Conversion Survey on: Barn @ Old Merrose Farm, Tehidy, Camborne Mr D Barrand

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CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 2. OBJECTIVE 3. OVERALL SUMMARY 4. TIME OF INSPECTION & WEATHER 5. SITUATION 6. DESCRIPTION 7. THE SITE 8. CONSTRUCTION AND CONDITION Roofs Floors Gutters and rainwater disposal system External Walls Joinery Surfaces Adjacent to Property 9. SERVICES Gas Electricity Water Drainage 10. SUMMARY 11. CONFIRMATION OF INSPECTION

Conversion Survey on: Barn @ Old Merrose Farm, Tehidy, Camborne Mr D Barrand

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1. INTRODUCTION

Please note that this Report is solely for your use and that of your professional advisers, and no liability to anyone else is accepted. Should you not act upon specific points contained in this Report no responsibility is accepted for the consequences.

2. OBJECTIVE

This was to provide the client with a detailed report upon the construction and condition to accompany a planning application for change of use under Class Q.

3. OVERALL SUMMARY

It is hoped that this overall view will help the reader to keep in perspective the detailed facts and advice which follow.

A modern general-purpose farm building that was constructed around the site of an older pole barn some years ago. The building is of timber frame construction and clear span, and has no significant defects.

4. TIME OF INSPECTION & WEATHER

The property was inspected on the morning of the 17th November 2020. At the time of inspection, the property was largely clear bar some farm implements. In the past the building has been used for a number of uses including lambing and the floor was a mixture of earth and hardcore. I have been forwarded the proposed drawings and as such have been able to amend the original report to take this into consideration.

5. SITUATION

The property is situated down a partially made lane with the access to Old Merrose Farm to the main farmhouse and cottages. The subject building is to the northeast of the farmhouse.

The property is easily accessible for the A30 and the local facilities within Pool, Camborne and Redruth.

Conversion Survey on: Barn @ Old Merrose Farm, Tehidy, Camborne Mr D Barrand

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6. DESCRIPTION

A modern open plan general purpose farm building which is detached.

7. THE SITE

The subject building is located to the northeast of the farmhouse and is the most northeast of all the farm buildings. Adjoining on the southwest side there is what appears to be an old piggery or farm building of sorts and a concrete yard.

On the north west and northeast sides this is surrounded by fields although the land is slightly raised and is partially overgrown with brambles where this has been cut into to facilitate the construction of the building. The access to the building is immediately in front of it and this also serves as access to the neighbouring fields.

Conversion Survey on: Barn @ Old Merrose Farm, Tehidy, Camborne Mr D Barrand

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8. CONSTRUCTION AND CONDITION

The roofs, chimneys and other external surfaces of the building were examined from ground level, and with the help of binoculars. All the roof areas could not be inspected at close quarters due to the remit of this survey. Inspection from ground level was undertaken with the additional aid and benefit of binoculars.

ROOF The roof is boxed metal profile sheets which are plastic coated with matching verge and ridge sheets in place. These were noted to be in very good order and it would appear that the building is around 15 years old on the site of what was the former pole barn. The roofline is straight and true on both elevations.

There is no vapour barrier underneath the roof covering. It is likely that building regulations will insist the existing sheets are taken off and an underfelt is added, and the existing sheets can then be reused if desired as they are in very good order. Unlike many farm buildings they were new at the time of construction rather than second hand.

FLOORS There is no formal floor, only earth and some hardcore that has been brought in to give more hardstanding.

During the conversion a new floor structure will be required throughout together with dampproof membrane, radon sumps, radon membrane, insulation and concrete in order to meet building regulations.

GUTTERS & RAINWATER There is circular section PVC to both elevations with downpipes discharging DISPOSAL SYSTEM over ground.

During the conversion any such downpipes will need to be directed to soakaways over 5m from any buildings. The size of these will need to be calculated dependent upon the percolation test that will be required.

EXTERNAL WALLS The external walls are constructed of vertical timber boarding with gaps to the main. The northwest, the northeast and the southwest are mainly clad down to a height of around 1.8m. The front elevation, which is southeast facing, is apex clad only to facilitate access. The one deviation from this is that there is a small gated access to the adjoining yard on the south side of the southwest elevation.

The remaining walls are blockwork stock walling to a height of around 1.8m to 2m and the old poles from the pole barn are still in situ around this. This blockwork can be retained if desired but it has no structural purpose, it is just infill stock walling to protect any timber cladding that would have been used originally, or galvanised iron, from being pushed out by livestock.

During conversion there will be works required to meet building regulations this is highlighted within the appended method statement. Conversion Survey on: Barn @ Old Merrose Farm, Tehidy, Camborne Mr D Barrand

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JOINERY There is no joinery on the building other than gates on the gated access.

SURFACES ADJACENT TO THE As mentioned, to the southwest there is a concrete yard serving the adjoining PROPERTY area which may have been used as a piggery in the past. The adjoining land is a hardstanding lane to the front. The area where there is a retaining bank on the northeast is overgrown but is likely to just be soil and the same on the southwest elevation.

During any conversion it will be necessary for surface water drainage to be considered and ideally the external ground level should be 150mm below the internal. If this cannot be achieved there will be a need to consider surface water channels or French drains.

STRUCTURE The structure of the envelope of the building is open plan timber frame. The columns are three parts bolted together which is standard. These are concreted into the ground. There is some softness to one of these on the corner post between the southwest and southeast elevation which has been exposed to the elements but this is fairly minimal, this requires one new base section. The structure has not been compromised.

As mentioned, the columns are bolted together. In terms of size they are overall 8inches by 7inches with a 3inch centre timber and 2inch outer timbers. The base structure is a standard 15ft bay so approximately 45ft by 30ft width. There is rafter timbers of size 8inches by 3inches and there is an apex collar tie and apex plywood sheeting. There is also diagonal bracing on the corner posts.

The purlins that support the current roof are 6inches by 2inches which is standard and at standard centres of 4ft. This is a standard construction for any specialist farm building manufacture and is noted to be all straight and true, with no issues of any significance. This will be capable of supporting the additional weight of the insulation and plasterboard ceilings, if vaulted ceilings are required.

The only thing one does need to consider in terms of longevity of the building is the fact that the weakest point of the structure will always be the exposed timber at the junction where this goes into the concrete foundations. As a precaution you would be wise to put a steel boot under the columns.

Conversion Survey on: Barn @ Old Merrose Farm, Tehidy, Camborne Mr D Barrand

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9. SERVICES

GAS No gas is available.

ELECTRICITY There is currently mains electric off the main farm. It is not known if a new supply will be required.

WATER There is currently a private water supply serving the current farm and cottages and it is believed that there is sufficient scope to add a further dwelling to this.

DRAINAGE In terms of drainage to the site there is a private water treatment works to the cottage and a septic tank to the farmhouse. A new drainage system will be required to the conversion and this could be in the form of a septic tank or private water treatment works subject to consents.

10. SUMMARY

The current envelope of the building is in good structural order and the structure is capable of supporting the proposed conversion.

This is a fairly simple conversion with no significant remediation only the need to carry out works in such a way as to comply with building regulations and the appended method statement.

11. CONFIRMATION OF INSPECTION

I hereby certify that the Property has been inspected by me and that I have prepared this Report.

SIGNATURE: AMENDED REPORT: 21ST January 2021

CHRISTOPHER M GUNN BSc MRICS Member of the Independent Surveyors Association