Unconverted barn in Le Vignal, Aquitaine, France

Partly restored stone barn with full building permission in Aquitaine

Stone barn and part farmhouse with full building permission for conversion to a three bedroom house and attached self contained two bedroom house, set on a half acre plot with views over a wooded valley in the hamlet of Le Vignal in the Lot-et-Garonne region (department 47) of Aquitaine

Partially restored stone barn in Le Vignal, a quiet hamlet on the western edge of the Lot-et-Garonne, near the Dordogne border and just 45 minutes from Bergerac airport. Set in the heart of rural France, the barn has full permission for conversion into two attached residences totalling five bedrooms.

The barn is about 100 years old and has a new roof, maintaining the original oak beams. All timber is treated and the structure has been treated against termites with the usual guarantees.

It is 'semi-detached' to an adjacent barn with a new double concrete block wall to provide full isolation.

Accommodation

A local architect has designed the conversion to provide some 160 sq m of living space in the barn, with three en-suite double bedrooms (two upstairs and one down), a large open plan living area downstairs and a mezzanine.

The section of farmhouse will provide a further two en-suite bedrooms and living area with an undercover storage area.

The designs maximise the view of the main oak roof beams etc.

Work so far

New water and electricity supplies have been provided together with a new septic tank and sand drain (approved by the local authority).

In the barn, apart from the new roof, there is a new concrete floor, with grey drainage pipes for bathrooms, kitchen etc. installed. The current floor level is some 16 cm below the planned finished level to allow for insulation and under-floor heating etc.

The main internal ground floor walls have been built to provide support for the upstairs floor beams. The downstairs bedroom and en suite (with floor above) has also been largely completed to provide a place to 'camp out' while organising (or undertaking) the remaining construction works - saving the cost and inconvenience of arranging temporary accommodation in a Gite or similar.

All beams for supporting the first floor are installed and the floor partially boarded. Beams that may be visible from the living area are in oak.

Four windows and a doorway have been provided by a local stonemason, although more need to be included.

Although significant work has been completed according to the architects design, a lot of flexibility remains for changing as required by the new owners.

In the farm house section, no work had been undertaken except clearance of damaged timber and treatment of the remainder.

A locally based English 'project manager' who knows all the necessary local artisans and builders merchants is available to take the conversion forward if need be. A more detailed description with copies of layout plans etc. is available, if required.

Outside

The barn comes with 2,300 sq m of land (just over half an acre), mostly grassed with some mature fruit and fig trees. It faces south west and there are excellent views across a wooded valley. There is plenty of space for a swimming pool.

In addition, a further 2.3 hectares of woodland in the valley are included in the package that will provide a ready supply of timber for a wood burning stove.

The area

The barn is off a quiet country lane that only serves the dozen or so houses in Le Vignal, plus the occasional farm vehicle. The surrounding area is either agricultural or wooded.

Le Vignal is just over an hour's drive from the A20, providing full autoroute links to Paris, Calais and the south. (search for Vignal, Cuzorn on Google Earth). The main town, Fumel, is about 7 km away and on the River Lot.

It has a good range of shops and supermarkets. Bordeaux (and the west coast) is about 2 hours away and the closest airport (45 mins) is Bergerac with year round flights to several UK airports. The area is full of history with several Bastides (Monflanquin, Monpazier and Villereal being the closest) and a couple of old chateaux (Bonaguil and Biron), as well as many vineyards!!