Business Details
36 Years
experience
Expert Rural Planning Solutions in Taunton
Bondstones is a West Country-based professional practice specialising in rural planning and architectural consultancy. Established in 1990, we combine expertise in chartered surveying with innovative design to address rural property challenges across southern England. Our team of RICS-regulated professionals focuses on sustainable development, specialising in change-of-use planning, barn conversions, and rural diversification projects. With decades of collective experience, we offer objective advice grounded in practical solutions for farmers, estate managers, and property owners.Our approach prioritises early issue identification and transparent guidance, ensuring clients only proceed when clear pathways exist. We serve clients from Lands End to London, with particular strength in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, and Cornwall. Our integrated services cover planning applications, architectural design, and building regulations compliance, supported by 3D visualisation tools that enhance proposal clarity. As a regulated practice, we maintain strict professional standards with comprehensive insurance coverage.
Services
Planning Applications
Barn Conversions
Architectural Design
Permitted Development
Rural Diversification
Details
- Year established: 1990
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of specialist rural planning experience
- Our team includes RICS-regulated chartered surveyors
- We provide objective advice from first contact
- Specialists in permitted development and barn conversions
- We use 3D design tools for clearer project visualisation
Associations and certifications
- RICS
What people say
Professional approach
Excellent results
Objective advice
Sustainable solutions
Successful appeals
Services
Planning Applications
We prepare and submit comprehensive planning applications for rural developments. Our RICS-regulated team specialises in navigating complex rural planning regulations, with particular expertise in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We provide pre-application advice, design visualisations, and appeal support to maximise approval chances for projects involving change of use, new builds, and heritage sites.
Barn Conversions
Our barn conversion service transforms agricultural buildings into modern residential or commercial spaces. We specialise in Class Q permitted development rights, ensuring compliance with heritage and environmental regulations. The team provides full architectural design, planning permission acquisition, and building regulation approvals for traditional rural structures across southern England.
Permitted Development
We advise on permitted development rights for rural properties, including Class MA (commercial to residential), Class Q (barn conversions), and Class R (agricultural buildings). Our services cover eligibility assessments, certificate of lawful use applications, and implementation strategies to maximise development potential without full planning permission.
Architectural Design
Our architectural design service combines 3D visualisation with rural expertise to create practical, sustainable solutions. We specialise in heritage building adaptations, eco-friendly rural homes, and agricultural conversions. The team produces detailed plans that satisfy planning authorities while maintaining design integrity for projects across Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall.
Rural Diversification
We support rural businesses in diversifying their income streams through property development. Services include feasibility assessments, planning strategies for tourism ventures, and agricultural worker dwellings. Our team understands the unique challenges of rural enterprises and provides tailored solutions to enhance property value while maintaining agricultural operations.
People
Ian Firth
Managing Director
With 30+ years in rural planning, Ian leads Bondstones' strategic direction. He specialises in complex rural development cases and has particular expertise in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. His experience spans farm diversification, heritage projects, and sustainable building conversions across southern England.
Stuart Woodward
Architectural Director
Stuart heads architectural services with expertise in 3D design and rural building adaptations. He specialises in transforming heritage structures into modern spaces while maintaining regulatory compliance. His work focuses on achieving planning permission for challenging rural sites across Devon and Cornwall.
Jennifer Craig
Architectural Technician
Jennifer supports architectural projects with technical drawings and 3D visualisations. She specialises in converting planning approvals into buildable designs, particularly for heritage buildings and permitted development schemes across the South West.
Questions
What planning services do you offer for rural properties?
We provide full planning services including applications, appeals, permitted development assessments, and pre-application advice specifically for rural properties across southern England.
Do you work outside the South West?
While based in Taunton, we work throughout southern England from Lands End to London, with particular experience in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, and Cornwall.
Can you help with barn conversion planning?
Yes, we specialise in Class Q barn conversions, providing full planning strategy development, heritage compliance, and architectural design services.
What architectural design tools do you use?
We use advanced 3D design software to create detailed visualisations that help planning authorities and clients understand proposed developments.
Are you regulated by professional bodies?
Yes, we are a RICS-regulated practice of chartered surveyors, ensuring professional standards and comprehensive insurance coverage for all our services.
How do you handle complex rural planning challenges?
We combine early issue identification, objective advice, and design review processes to address challenges, with expertise in appealing planning decisions when necessary.
