Clare Nash Architecture

How does the garden design consultation work?

Clare Nash — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:45:11 +0000

Taking the leap to redesign your outdoor space can feel equal parts exciting and daunting. You know you want a space that can actually be used (rather than the dumping ground it’s become). You know you want to sit outside and soak in nature, sipping tea and dreaming. You know that you need a space […]

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What It’s Really Like Running a Female-Led Architecture Practice

Clare Nash — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:40:56 +0000

When I set up Clare Nash Architecture, I didn’t consciously think, “I’m going to run a female-led practice.” I just wanted to do great work – design beautiful, sustainable homes, work with nice people, and have the freedom to live my life along the way. Fast forward to today and our practice is something quite […]

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What Are Planning Conditions?

Clare Nash — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:26:23 +0000

What Are Planning Conditions? (And Why Should You Care?) If you’re dreaming of converting a barn, building an ecohome, or designing your perfect countryside home, you likely already know that getting planning permission is key. But even after you’ve been granted permission, the planning side of things is not quite over (sigh)— this is where […]

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I couldn’t afford not to use an architect

Clare Nash — Fri, 09 May 2025 14:15:08 +0000

“I couldn’t afford not to use an architect” I know architects seem expensive. Sometimes our fees are compared with new kitchen fittings. Obviously, the kitchen units are big, shiny and tangible. They win over boring old architect’s fees right? I’m not offended. What many people don’t realise is how much money we can save our […]

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Change of Planning Use

Clare Nash — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 08:36:26 +0000

The most common change of planning use, that we work on, is a barn conversion to a dwelling. Often, this is just called ‘change of use’. Barn conversions mainly have agricultural (or sui generis in planning terms) use. But sometimes they have Storage, Commercial or Business use. To change the planning use of a barn […]

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Barn Conversion into a Dwelling, a Guide following changes to permitted development rights

Clare Nash — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 11:10:51 +0000

2025 update! Changes to permitted development rights. Permitted development rights changed in 2024 for an agricultural barn conversion into a dwelling. Other use classes (eg commercial or storage, have different permitted development rules). I have written more detail about Class Q changes on this blog. And more specifically about modern barn conversions and Class Q […]

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Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – what is it and what does it mean to me?

Clare Nash — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:12:43 +0000

What is BNG? Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for small sites came into force in April 2024 (previously it only applied to larger developments). With all planning applications (except for homeowner ones) you now need to demonstrate 10% biodiversity improvement on what was there before. For example, if you have a grassy area, you could improve […]

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Important Changes to Class Q Permitted Development: May 2025 Update

Clare Nash — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:52:40 +0000

Don’t forget that Class Q planning has changed! Starting from May 2025, we’ll see the end of the transition period between the old and new Permitted Development (PD) rights for barn conversions. Old PD – convert a barn into a single large dwelling. New PD – convert a barn into a few smaller dwellings […]

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Class Q planning for large modern barn conversions

Clare Nash — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:00:34 +0000

Modern barns for conversion [2025 updated] Since 2020 we have seen an increase in planning permissions for modern barns for conversion. However changes are afoot! By ‘modern’ barns, we mean the steel-framed large barns clad in concrete block, timber boarding or metal sheeting. They usually have metal or asbestos roofs. Class Q legislation is more […]

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The Community Infrastructure Levy and what it means for self-builders and barn conversions

Clare Nash — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 09:04:01 +0000

Updated in 2025. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a piece of legislation adopted by most UK councils affecting developments since 1st April 2016. It is an additional charge that applies to new-build homes, new floors in barn conversions and home extensions over 100m2. You can apply for self-build exemption if it will be your […]

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