Trevorva Barns, Probus

At Trevorva Barns, SMT Associates led the conversion of traditional agricultural buildings into five homes for the ARC Addington Fund, now known as The Addington Fund. The development combined the conservation of a historic farmstead with a clear social purpose: providing homes for retired agricultural workers unable to compete on the open housing market.

Previously owned by Cornwall Council, the farm offered an opportunity to bring redundant buildings back into use while retaining their distinctive rural character.

SMT Associates acted as lead consultants, providing planning consultancy, Building Regulations coordination, project management and contract administration through to completion and client handover.

Undertaken around 2005, the development received an award in 2006 and was officially opened by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III.

A new purpose for traditional farm buildings

The project transformed a range of redundant single- and two-storey stone barns into five individual homes. Their conversion required the existing buildings to inform the design, with accommodation developed around the constraints and opportunities of agricultural construction.

The challenge was to introduce the facilities, comfort and performance expected of modern homes while maintaining the character of the farmyard group. The relationship between the buildings, their openings, materials and shared spaces was central to that character.

Each dwelling needed to function independently while remaining part of a coherent development. Internal layouts, access and alterations were therefore considered alongside the wider arrangement of the courtyard and its buildings.

Revealing the original farmstead

A later pole barn had concealed the original cartshed and disrupted the traditional courtyard arrangement. Its demolition revealed the granite-columned frontage and opened up the farmyard, restoring a clearer relationship between the original buildings.

At the former cartshed, a new timber-framed glazed screen was set back behind the retained granite columns. This preserved the depth and rhythm of the open frontage, allowing the columns to remain prominent and the building’s former use to remain clearly legible.

The recessed glazing also created a sheltered threshold between the courtyard and the interior while bringing natural light into the accommodation. It allowed the cartshed to become useful living space while retaining the agricultural features that gave it its identity.

Conserving the character of unlisted buildings

Although the barns were not listed, conservation principles informed their conversion and formed a central part of discussions with planners and conservation officers.

The approach focused on retaining the buildings’ agricultural character while introducing the repairs and alterations needed for residential use.

Existing openings were retained wherever possible, preserving evidence of the barns’ original functions. Where alterations were necessary, they were designed to remain visually subordinate to the retained fabric.

Existing stonework was repaired and consolidated, with defective sections rebuilt using locally sourced stone. Traditional lime render and lime pointing provided finishes compatible with the masonry, supporting moisture movement and drying.

The buildings’ structure, materials and irregularities guided the design.

New elements were carefully positioned so that the agricultural form remained dominant, allowing the working history of the farmstead to remain visible in its new use.

Combining traditional character with modern performance

Bespoke timber windows, doors and screens were manufactured for the project, combining double-glazed performance with designs suited to the former agricultural buildings.

The proportions, positioning and detailing of the joinery were particularly important at existing openings. These elements needed to provide weather protection, daylight and practical access while respecting the scale and character of the surrounding masonry.

Close coordination with structural engineers addressed the stability and integrity of the barns during conversion. Structural requirements were considered alongside the proposed layouts and retained fabric, bringing the technical and conservation aspects of the work together.

Compatible repairs, carefully detailed joinery and considered internal layouts enabled the buildings to accommodate modern living requirements while retaining the features that made the farmyard group distinctive.

Taking the project through to completion

SMT Associates’ involvement extended from planning and design development through to construction and handover.

We prepared and submitted planning applications and supporting documentation, coordinated Building Regulations submissions and worked closely with structural engineers on the alterations required for conversion.

Our project management and contract administration role included overseeing tendering, monitoring site progress, assessing contractor valuations and certifying payments. This maintained continuity between the agreed design, the work on site and the client’s financial oversight.

That continuing involvement helped carry the conservation approach through the practical decisions of construction, with attention to the treatment of existing fabric, new materials and finished details.

Conservation with a social purpose

Working for the ARC Addington Fund gave the development a purpose beyond the repair of redundant buildings. The five homes provided accommodation for retired agricultural workers, connecting the farmstead’s new use with the rural community it had historically served.

The conservation and housing objectives supported one another.

Residential reuse provided a reason to invest in the buildings, while their retained character gave the completed homes a strong connection to their setting.

The project demonstrated how traditional agricultural buildings could contribute to rural housing through sensitive adaptation, making use of established structures while preserving the identity of the place.

Recognition and a royal opening

The development received an award in 2006. Its official opening by the then Prince of Wales marked a significant occasion for the charity, residents and project team.

During the visit, Stephen Tucker and Jeremy Dunstan of SMT Associates were introduced to His Royal Highness as he toured the completed development.

For SMT Associates, Trevorva remains an important part of our conservation history: an early example of bringing together an understanding of traditional buildings, practical technical design and sustained involvement through construction.

A lasting use for the farmstead

The completed scheme created five homes, repaired the traditional masonry and recovered the distinctive granite-columned cartshed frontage. Removal of the later pole barn reopened the courtyard, while bespoke timber joinery and recessed glazing allowed the buildings to accommodate residential use with their agricultural character intact.

Trevorva demonstrates how planning, conservation and project delivery can work together to secure a useful future for redundant rural buildings, and provide homes with a lasting connection to the community they serve.

Related services: Award-Winning Conservation · Project Delivery

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