Barns and rural buildings wanted in Newton Abbot
We are actively looking for barns and rural buildings in Newton Abbot and the surrounding area, with or without planning permission.
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 Newton Abbot
In the countryside around Newton Abbot, redundant barns and yards can sometimes become homes, depending on the building and the route available. Newton Abbot is in Devon, about 14 miles south of Exeter. Nearby places include Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
- Traditional brick or stone barns
- Modern agricultural buildings that may suit Class Q (England)
- Farmyards with several buildings
- Buildings with an existing access to a road
The A30, A38 and M5 corridors and the main line from Exeter to Plymouth carry most of Devon's planned growth, including new communities east of Exeter. In coastal towns, flood risk and coastal change can affect sites, while nutrient neutrality advice has applied in the River Axe catchment on the Dorset border.
What usually makes or breaks it
Planning route
In England, Class Q prior approval may apply to agricultural buildings; in Wales, a full application is usually needed.
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.
National policy in England now recognises "medium development" of 10 to 49 homes on sites up to 2.5 hectares, and asks councils to allocate at least 10% of their housing on sites of one hectare or less and a further 10% on sites of one to 2.5 hectares.
Though we are based in Birmingham (roughly 158 miles away), distance is no barrier: we look at land across England and Wales.
Choosing how to sell
Subject-to-planning contract
Common: we seek consent or prior approval and complete if successful.
Subject-to-planning contractWhat happens after you get in touch
Get in touch
Tell us where the land is and what you know about it.
Site review
We look at the land, its planning position and anything that could affect it.
Proposal
We put our proposal in writing, with no obligation to accept.
Exchange and completion
If you go ahead, contracts are exchanged and the sale completes on the agreed terms.
Frequently asked in Devon
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.
We still use some of the buildings. Can we sell just part of the yard?
Yes. We can look at selling some buildings and keeping others, with access and boundaries agreed.
Do you buy barns and rural buildings in Newton Abbot?
Yes. We buy barns and rural buildings in Newton Abbot 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 Newton Abbot?
As Newton Abbot 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.