Planning Submission – January 2005

Fortunately, we had the Change of Use approval and therefore our plans were drawn up to reflect not only our personal wishes for living space, but also to be sympathetic to the Grange itself and the area. In October and November 2004 we liaised with our architect to get the detail agreed and documented within our plans for the conversion and renovation, which we finalised in December and submitted to the Marie de Colondannes. Local approval was given on 18th January 2005, which was a real surprise, although because we are near a ‘National Monument’, approval needed to be secured from the Regional Authority in Limoges.

La Grange Grise Plans 2005

Purchase Completion – September 2004

Having instructed the Notaries to proceed with both the purchase of the Grange and the Orchard, we eventually completed the purchase on 26th September 2004 and could then move ahead with drawing up the plans to secure the planning permission that would serve to pave the way to turning a farm building into a home.

A SAFER hurdle to overcome–July 2004

Fortunately, the law in France requires the owner of any farm building to secure a Change or Use Approval before offering for sale and this was done, but having agreed a sale it is also law that the land and property must be offered to SAFER to notify any local farmer, who have the right of first refusal and may offer the agreed price to secure the property.

http://www.terresdeurope.net/en/buying-with-safer-farm-france-property.html
This process was followed and no offers were received, but is did mean that completion did not occur during August and our holiday period, as we had hoped.

Luck secured us an Orchard – May 2004

The Grange itself is situated in around 1,200 sq metres of land on 3 sides. On the 4th side is an orchard and wonderfully tended vegetable plot, which adjourns the Grange and stretches to country lane that runs alongside. We had coverted that piece of land from our first viewing and had it in our mind to offer to buy it from the owner, once we were settled in.

During the visit, Nick was just explaining to me that French Building Regulation meant we could not put any windows overlooking a neighbours land and an archetypical old Frenchman came up and explained he owned the Orchard and thought we should buy it from him.

He had thought through all the reasons and benefits to us of buying the land and wanted a reasonable price for the 400 sq metres that would completely change and improve the options for the renovation and orientation of the property.

Check it Out Survey – May 2004

The disagreement on the price turned into a blessing in disguise, as we had arranged for Nick Adams, a local Architect to visit and check out the structure of the Grange and provide advice on the renovation work, which proved invaluable and reassuring. The delay enabled us to get advice and the reassurrance that the structure was sound and the projest was feasible, before proceeding.

http://www.adamsgautier.com/

We were being pressurised to move ahead with the signing of the Contract, which we had managed to delay as a result of the gazumping, but following the visit we move ahead with more confidence.