This dilapidated stone farmhouse in the Aude region of south west France was been granted planning permission for transformation into a contemporary five-bedroom family home with a separate gîte, following a detailed architectural submission. The project highlights the importance of working with an architect experienced in French planning permission (permis de construire) and rural property renovation in Occitanie.

The client approached us with a firm idea of how they wanted to redevelop the building, and were seeking architectural guidance to apply their vision into a successful planning application. This traditional farmhouse had fallen into severe disrepair; large sections of the roof had collapsed, leaving parts of the building exposed and structurally compromised. A comprehensive design and planning strategy was developed to convert the main house into a spacious modern home featuring a large open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area, while preserving the character and scale of the original agricultural structure.

The scheme also included an outdoor kitchen and a swimming pool, carefully integrated into the landscape to enhance indoor-outdoor living — a key priority as this is a second home for hosting friends and family holidaying in the south of France. By aligning new interventions with the existing built form, we ensured the design respected local planning policies and the architectural vernacular typical of rural properties in the Aude and wider Occitanie region.

In addition to the main residence, the project involved the conversion of a detached barn into a two-bedroom guest house (gîte). Barn conversions in France often require detailed structural analysis and clear justification under local planning regulations. We prepared full architectural drawings, measured surveys and supporting documentation to demonstrate that the barn could be successfully adapted into compliant and high-quality guest accommodation.

The most significant planning challenge was proving that the severely dilapidated parts of the farmhouse — including areas where roofs had entirely caved in — formed part of the original habitable volume. French planning law limits reconstruction to a percentage of the existing building volume, so establishing the lawful, reconstructable volume was critical. Through archival research, historic mapping, structural evidence and a carefully argued planning statement, we built a robust case that these sections were historically part of the dwelling and therefore eligible for reconstruction.

After a lengthy planning process and detailed liaison with the local authorities, the permis de construire was approved. The project demonstrates how specialist architectural services in the Aude can unlock the potential of rural French properties — combining heritage sensitivity, regulatory expertise and contemporary design to deliver modern family homes and gîte accommodation in south west France.

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