Architects will have to plan around the wooden beam and pillars inside and the elaborate exterior ironwork. For what it's worth At last, a life after dark for Canary Wharf, in London's Docklands, is on the horizon. Manhattan Loft Corporation in partnership with the newly formed West India Quay Ltd, has just been given the go-ahead to develop West India Quay: "Very small compared with Canary Wharf, but in terms of impact it will be enormous," says Harry Handelsman, chairman of Manhattan.Five desolate but remarkable Grade I listed warehouses along the waterfront will be turned into 100 apartments, with shops and restaurants on the ground floor. The barn has a small garden with a raised lawn and parking area It is close to a couple of cottages. Bix - in the foothills of the Chilterns and near National Trust land - is three miles from Henley-on-Thames.
Offers in excess of pounds 100,000 through Savills (01491 579990). A brick-and-flint barn on the edge of the village of Bix, in Oxfordshire, is for sale in its raw state. The period barn, with a clay tiled roof, is not listed and comes with plans for conversion into a three-bedroom house. The existing barn will be the living and dining area with an open fireplace, and a new extension to the rear will include a large kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom with a main bedroom and bathroom en suite.
You could also consider drawing up a contract for the work; Which? July 1991 proposed a sample contract for small building jobs. That way, if something goes wrong, you are more likely to be able to get it put right or claim compensation.And if this seems like a complicated process just to mark out your territory from someone else's, just be grateful you're not a cat.Consumers' Association 0171-830 6000; The Guild of Master Craftsmen 01273 478449; HM Land Registry - consult your telephone directory for local offices. Make sure you agree the price and the length of time the job will take. For an "average" suburban semi, you could pay out upwards of pounds 500 for your share of the boundaries. The best way to find a reputable contractor is by personal recommendation, but failing that you could try contacting the Guild of Master Craftsmen for a list of members in your area, or ask your fencing supplier.As with every job you employ someone to do for you, the more exact you can be about what you want (preferably in writing), the more likely you are to be satisfied with the result.
