Project updates, practice news, and the occasional hot take. You might just find the spark you’re looking for.
Our Class Q conversion just secured prior approval—one forgotten cow shed on the outskirts of Sutton Coldfield is officially becoming a three-bedroom home.
Just six weeks after submission, the approval has been granted without drama, no planning committee theatre, no last-minute bat surveys. Just a straightforward yes from Lichfield District Council planners who recognised good preparation when they saw it.
This redundant agricultural building will transform into three large double bedrooms and open-plan living that makes the most of its rural setting. A modern home with the kind of character you can't buy off-plan.
The prior approval process cared about the practical stuff: structural integrity, highways access, contamination risks, flooding potential. All cleared without fuss because we front-loaded the evidence. Structural surveys before submission and highways statements that pre-empted concerns. The boring preparation that makes approvals boring too.
Why Class Q Matters
As architects in Sutton Coldfield, we see redundant agricultural buildings everywhere—slowly crumbling while housing demand grows and greenbelt stays protected. Class Q offers the obvious solution: turn agricultural leftovers into actual homes.
This approval proves it works when handled properly. No new development sprawl. No housing estates. Just forgotten buildings getting useful again. For landowners around Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield sitting on old barns or sheds, this shows what's possible.
Working With JSA
This project joins a growing portfolio of Class Q conversions across Birmingham and the West Midlands. As RIBA Chartered architects, we know what planners need to see, what structural engineers worry about, and what makes these conversions viable.
If you're looking for an architect in Sutton Coldfield who understands Class Q, permitted development rights, or just wants to turn that old barn into something beautiful, we should talk. Sometimes the best homes aren't built from scratch—they're hiding in plain sight, dressed as cow sheds.
JSA is a RIBA Chartered Practice based in Lichfield. We specialise in residential architecture, navigating planning permissions, and turning unlikely buildings into brilliant homes.
