Barns and rural buildings wanted in Exeter
We want to hear from owners of barns and rural buildings in Exeter. There is nothing to pay us, and you are under no obligation.
Barns and rural buildings can sometimes become homes through conversion or, in some cases, replacement. In England, Class Q permitted development allows certain agricultural buildings to change to residential use; in Wales the route is through a planning application. We buy suitable buildings in both nations.

- Size
- Single barns to farmyards
- Planning
- With or without
- Areas
- England & Wales
- Ways we buy
- Outright or conditional
The barns and rural buildings that interests us around Exeter
Farm buildings near Exeter that have fallen out of use may suit conversion, particularly traditional barns with a good access. As the county town of Devon, Exeter anchors the area we cover here, along with Exmouth, Tiverton and Newton Abbot.
- Traditional brick or stone barns
- Modern agricultural buildings that may suit Class Q (England)
- Stable blocks, workshops and rural yards
- Buildings with or without an existing consent
Devon has no Green Belt, but Dartmoor and part of Exmoor National Parks and the East Devon, North Devon, South Devon, Blackdown Hills and Tamar Valley National Landscapes cover a large share of the county. Growth focuses on Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay and the market towns, with many villages beyond. Edge-of-town greenfield land, farm buildings and smaller infill plots are the usual sources of new housing sites.
Checks we make on barns and rural buildings in Exeter
Structure
Conversion routes usually require the building to be capable of conversion without substantial rebuilding.
Protected species
Bats and barn owls are common in rural buildings and need surveys at the right time of year.
Access and services
Rural buildings often need new access, drainage and power.
Where an English council cannot show a five-year supply of housing land, or its Housing Delivery Test result falls below 75%, the August 2026 NPPF can give policy support to suitable housing outside settlement boundaries.
Our base is in Great Barr, Birmingham, about 144 miles away, and we buy land throughout England and Wales.
Four ways to sell to us
Subject-to-planning contract
We agree a price now and complete once a satisfactory planning permission is granted.
Subject-to-planning contractWhat happens after you get in touch
Tell us about the land
Use the form or call us with the location and a rough outline of the site.
Free appraisal
We review title, planning and constraints and tell you honestly what we think.
Written offer
If the site suits us, we set out an offer and the way we propose to buy.
Solicitors take over
Your solicitor and ours agree the contract; we keep you informed throughout.
Barns and rural buildings in Exeter: common questions
Does Class Q apply in Wales?
No. Class Q is part of the permitted development rules for England. In Wales, barn conversions generally need a full planning application.
Can a steel-framed barn become a home?
In England it may, under Class Q, if it meets the conditions. Whether it is worth doing depends on the building, access and location.
Do you buy barns and rural buildings in Exeter?
Yes. We buy barns and rural buildings in Exeter and throughout Devon, as well as elsewhere in England and Wales. Tell us where the land is and we will give you a free appraisal.
Which planning rules apply to land in Exeter?
As Exeter is in England, national policy comes from the National Planning Policy Framework, revised in August 2026. Local policies in the council's development plan also apply.
