The results of a Norfolk couple's hard work to turn a Grade II listed derelict barn into a family home will be shown to the nation on television this evening.
Graham and Nicola Parker's labour of love in Stanninghall, near Frettenham, to the north of Norwich, will feature on the BBC Two programme Restoration Home.
St Peter's Barn, in Stanninghall Road, comes with responsibility for a Grade II listed ruined church tower.
Mr Parker, owner of G Parker Building Services Ltd, was not put off by the amount of work needed and the structural problems which needed to be solved to save the 18th century building. He said: 'We fell in love with it as soon as we saw it on the approach through the trees and we knew we had to have it.'
But creating a happy home was not an easy process, with the building included on Broadland District Council's Heritage at Risk Register.
They worked closely with the planning department at Broadland to make their dream a reality though. Mr Parker continued: 'We had seen programmes on the television showing the difficulties people have with the planning departments and we were expecting those same problems, but this hasn't been the case.
'Broadland Council was able to offer not only advice but also a small amount of grant aid which really helped with the purchase of materials.'
Shaun Vincent, portfolio holder for planning at Broadland, praised the couple's hard work to restore the 35m long and 20m tall barn.
'From the beginning they came up with imaginative yet sympathetic ideas for the restoration of the barn,' Mr Vincent said. 'It is an important building and what Mr and Mrs Parker have achieved so far is a conversion that retains the agricultural feel and architectural details.
'The way the conversion has taken place has created almost a free standing house within the walls of the barn, meaning the fabric of the historic building is almost untouched.'
The barn also comprises green technology and utilises free standing solar panels and a ground source heat pump to create the hot water and heating for the building. A rainwater harvesting system also enhances the buildings water supplies.
Nigel Harriss, area planning manager for Broadland, said: 'It's impressive to see that these energy and resource saving technologies more associated with new homes feature heavily in this restoration project.'
The episode of Restoration Home, presented by Caroline Quentin, will be aired at 8pm tonight.
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