A TEESSIDE property developer is playing in the big league as one of his renovation projects has been short-listed for a national award - alongside the new Wembley Stadium.
The Stone Barn, a once-derelict 17th century building at Preston Lane, near Eaglescliffe, is competing against five developments for the title of best Structural Innovation Project in the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) National Built In Quality Awards. And Chris Richardson, one of the two developers involved in the project, liked the stylish conversion so much he decided to live there himself. “After it was finished, I couldn’t bring myself to sell it,” he laughs. So Chris, his wife Liz and sons Joe, 18, and Sam, 17, moved into the Stone Barn to enjoy contemporary living with an historic twist. The two-storey barn has made the finals because of its lightweight internal steel frame structure – a technique normally used on new-build projects – which strengthened the bowed stone walls and supported a new pantile roof. The sustainable, 100% recyclable steel is the EWALL Steel Frame System, made by W A Browne (Building Services) in Billingham. Inside, the home has a bright and airy ambience. Features include Travertine limestone flooring in the reception hall, and Jerusalem stone in the spacious kitchen/diner, which Chris says is definitely the centre of the house. “We’re always in there.” The kitchen/diner includes quality walnut units, a large range-style cooker, a wine cooler, and integrated coffee machine plus built-in Neff appliances, including microwave, fridge and freezer and dishwasher. There is a large island unit, which is perfect for the keen cook. “I had a party last week for my 50th and there were 159 people here,” adds Chris. “There was room for everyone inside and outside.” The lounge has a modern fireplace, doors to the York and Indian stone patios to the side and rear of the property, plus lovely open views over the Cleveland Hills. There is also underfloor heating throughout this level, which Chris says is cost-efficient because “the whole floor is your radiator” instead of just one or two radiators”. There is also a fourth bedroom with en suite on this level, although the family currently use it as a quiet room, where TV is banned. Off the hall is a cloakroom, and a door from the kitchen/diner to the utility room and double garage. In addition, there is a small courtyard, which provides another attractive outdoor living space. Up the handsome custom-made oak staircase are three bedrooms, all with up-to-date en suites and vaulted ceilings, plus conservation roof windows in keeping with the age of the home. Several of the bedrooms provide more views of those wide open spaces. The Stone Barn was put forward for the national award after winning the Structural Innovation category of this year’s LABC northern regional awards. Its success comes a year after Preston Farm Developments’ first venture into property development – the conversion of a redundant coach house and adjacent barn at Preston Farm into three cottages – won third place for best conservation project in the 2007 LABC Built in Quality Awards. First prize went to Alnwick Castle Gardens restaurant. Paul Devine, Chris’s partner, says: “We were running a successful IT company and wanted to try our hand at developing new offices for it here at Preston Farm. “As it turned out, we were approached to sell the IT business and this enabled us to invest a lot more time and money into developing Preston Farm.” At the same time as converting the barn, the duo carried out a sympathetic renovation of the original farmhouse adjacent to it. And as it turned out, Paul also couldn’t bear to put the converted farmhouse on the market, so he moved into that one. Now the company is converting another property at Kirklevington, near Yarm, and has what Chris calls “ambitious and exciting” proposals, subject to planning permission, for land adjoining the Stone Barn. Local Authority Building Control, which represents all local authority building control departments in England and Wales, will announce the winners of the National Built in Quality Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, next Thursday. | 
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