Property Description:
The barn is stone built and is about 100 years old. It has just had a new roof fitted, maintaining most of the original oak beams and adding new oak beams where necessary (See photo). All timber is treated and the barn structure has been treated against termites. It was used for cattle and is ‘semi-detached’ to
a similar barn next door with a new double concrete block wall to provide full isolation between the two. An architect has designed the conversion to provide 160 sq m of living space, with three en-suite double bedrooms (two upstairs and one down), a large open plan living area downstairs and a large mezzanine, which could provide another bedroom. A CU (similar to planning permission) has been obtained from the local authority for the conversion.
A new water supply has been provided together with a temporary electricity supply (permanent being arranged).
All of the original floor has been removed and replaced by a new concrete one, with grey drainage pipes for bathrooms, kitchen etc. installed. These are positioned in accordance with the architect's design but offer potential for change, particularly for the two upstairs bathrooms. The
current floor level is some 16cm below the planned finished level to allow for insulation and underfloor heating etc.. A new septic tank and sand based land
drain has been installed and approved by the local authority.
The main internal ground floor walls have been built to provide support for the upstairs floor beams. The downstairs bedroom and en suite (with floor above)
has also been largely completed (see photos) to provide a place to ‘camp out’ while organising (or undertaking) the remaining construction works (this should save the cost and inconvenience of arranging temporary accommodation in a Gite or similar). The current owner has a very good relationship with a locally based English ‘project manager’ who knows all the necessary local builders etc. and builders merchants to take the conversion foreword. A local estate agent has
indicated that if completed now, the barn would be worth around Euros 280,000.
The barn comes with 2,300 sq m of land (just over half an acre), mostly grassed with some mature fruit and fig trees. It slopes gently downward to the south
west and there are excellent views across a wooded valley (see photo). There is plenty of space for a swimming pool and a car parking area is provided with space for a
couple of cars. It is off a quite country lane that only serves the dozen or so houses in Le Vignal, plus the occasional farm vehicle. The surrounding area
is either agricultural or wooded.
Le Vignal is a quiet hamlet just over an hour drive from the A20, which provides all autoroute links to Calais. (search for Vignal, Cuzorn on Google Earth).
The main town, Fumel, is about 7 km away and is on the River Lot. It has a good range of shops and supermarkets, including some that open on Sunday morning.
Bordeaux (and the west coast) is about 2 hours away and the closest airport is Bergerac (about 45 minutes) with flights from a number of UK airports. There
are several Bastides in the area (Monflanquin, Monpazier, Villereal) and a couple of old chateaux (Bonaguil and Biron), as well as many vineyards!
Altogether, a lovely part of rural France.
For anyone requiring a larger property, an identical adjoining barn, a stone 4 bedroom farm house and 'pig sty' is also available with architect design for two dwellings, one 4/5 bedrooms and the other three bedrooms. This is priced at Euro 213,000 and all timber is treated and the barn and house both have a new roof. Water and electricity is laid on.
Please email at aathompson_uk@yahoo.co.uk or phone 07736677671 (UK mobile) for more details.
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