Sustainable Beauty: Cedar Cladding for a modern barn conversion Leominster, North Herefordshire

Barnfield

by 2 Counties Construction

The Barnfield Farm project, located in the picturesque market town of Leominster in North Herefordshire, is a prime example of a Class Q permitted development. This planning route allows for the transformation of agricultural buildings into residential dwellings, making it an innovative reuse of existing rural structures. At Barnfield Farm, the original agricultural barn – a steel portal frame building with reinforced concrete walls and an asbestos roof – was repurposed into two energy-efficient, modern residences.

While the project incorporates various advanced construction methods, including energy-efficient timber frames, ground source heat pumps, and solar panels, one of the standout features of the development is the extensive use of British-grown Cedar timber cladding, supplied by Hewins Timber. The cladding played a key role in enhancing both the aesthetic and sustainable attributes of the development.

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For the transformation of the agricultural barn into residences, the use of timber cladding was a deliberate choice to balance the traditional rural setting with a modern design approach. British Western Red Cedar cladding, chosen for its natural beauty and ability to weather over time, provides a stunning exterior finish that complements the rural landscape. As it weathers, the Cedar takes on a distinctive silvery-grey hue, which the client found particularly appealing for this barn conversion.

The diverse grain pattern and warm, pale-red colour of the home-grown Cedar added to the natural character of the buildings. Despite containing more knots than its foreign counterpart, Canadian Cedar, these imperfections were seen as part of the charm, giving the structure a more authentic and rustic look, in keeping with its agricultural origins.

Moreover, the Cedar cladding’s ability to weather evenly over time creates a natural patina that enhances the building’s exterior aesthetics as it ages, further elevating the visual appeal of the development.

One of the key reasons for selecting our British-grown Cedar was its sustainability. The faster growth rate of British Cedar compared to Canadian Cedar means that it is more readily available and sustainable. Additionally, being locally sourced from UK forests, the Cedar significantly reduced the carbon footprint associated with transportation, contributing to the project’s overall low environmental impact.

The cladding also supports the project’s emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental consciousness. The energy-efficient timber frame walls and renewable energy technologies such as ground source heat pumps and solar panels are in perfect harmony with the choice of an eco-friendly cladding material that has a low carbon footprint. This combination of sustainable construction elements underscores the project's focus on reducing carbon emissions and environmental impact.

"Hewins were great to deal with - both professional and efficient. They have good systems in place to deal with high volume / bespoke orders and they were friendly and approachable - we’d happily use them again. And we are very happy with the finished look of the cladding - it looks great!”

Lucy Davies, 2 Counties Construction

This project exemplifies how combining modern energy-efficient construction techniques with sustainable and aesthetically pleasing materials can result in a development that is both environmentally friendly and visually striking.

Photos Ref: 2 Counties Construction

British

Western Red Cedar

A more economical choice to its foreign cousin, British Western Red Cedar is faster growing and boasts a more consistent, pale-red colour with varied grain and character for a more natural look. It is less dense and contains...

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