We’re incredibly proud to share that Benjamin Henry Limited has been named South West Regional Winners and a Top 5 UK Finalist in the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2025, for our Church Barn project in Somerset.
The category was Best Residential Conversion to a Single New Home and to be recognised by Local Authority Building Control professionals makes this especially meaningful to us.
Construction is rarely straightforward. It requires judgement, coordination, and problem-solving at every stage. This award recognises the way the Church Barn project was delivered from structure and compliance through to craftsmanship and finish.
It Started On Site
Partway through the build, our Building Control inspector approached us to ask whether we would consider being nominated for an award.
He had seen the structural work, the sequencing, the detailing and the way the site was managed as the project progressed.
The assessment process that followed was thorough. It included technical submissions, staged construction photographs, and interviews with our team, the clients and Building Control.
It wasn’t about surface appearance, it was about how the building was put together.
That’s what makes this recognition significant to us.
The Church Barn Project
Church Barn began life as a former agricultural building used for stabling and storage, forming part of a wider scheme of three conversions on the same site.
The largest structure was carefully transformed into a modern family home, balancing performance, compliance and the retention of original character.
The project involved:
- Close coordination with architects, ecologists, English Heritage, planning authorities and Somerset Building Control
- Removal of the asbestos roof and trusses while retaining and strengthening the original walls
- Installation of a new steel structural frame designed to work in harmony with the existing masonry
- Forming large openings without compromising structural integrity
As the project evolved, the brief expanded to include a kitchen and sunroom extension with a sedum living roof, large bifold doors, and a double-porch extension all requiring careful planning and coordination.
Like most complex projects, it presented challenges along the way. What matters is how those challenges are handled with communication, collaboration and a focus on getting it right.
Craftsmanship and Detail
Internally, the completed home includes:
- An open-plan kitchen, dining and living space
- Utility, boot room, separate living room and WC
- Four double bedrooms, including two ensuites
The home incorporates a ground-source heat pump with underfloor heating, solar panels with battery storage, and an MVHR ventilation system.
The project also benefited from our in-house electrical team, led by James, allowing lighting, power and technical installations to be carefully coordinated alongside the wider build.
A standout feature is the bespoke joinery produced in-house.
Our master joiner, Paul, handcrafted the cabinetry and the curved oak staircase in our fully equipped joinery workshop. His skill and attention to detail play an important role in the overall quality and feel of the home.
The finished result is a light-filled, energy-efficient family home that blends contemporary living with agricultural heritage structurally sound, technically compliant, and built to last generations.
The Awards Evening
After being shortlisted nationally, our Founding Director, Benjamin Cavaghan (who scrubs up quite nicely!) attended the finals in London.
“It was inspiring to stand alongside others who are genuinely committed to raising standards in our industry. We don’t chase awards, our focus is on building homes properly for the people who live in them, but recognition from Building Control professionals, who see and scrutinise every stage of the build, carries real weight for us.
I’m proud of the team, especially Greg, our site foreman, who kept the project on track and ensured a high standard was maintained throughout.”
What This Recognition Reflects
This award reflects the approach taken on this project:
- Careful structural planning
- Open communication with clients and consultants
- Positive engagement with Building Control
- Skilled tradespeople who take pride in their work
We are also pleased to now be working with our local authority through the Partner Authority Scheme (PAS), building on the professional relationship developed during projects such as Church Barn.
Thank You
We would like to thank our clients for their trust, our team for their hard work, and the consultants and professionals who collaborated throughout the project.
Delivering complex buildings is always a collective effort.
Looking Ahead
If you are considering a barn conversion, heritage project, new build or residential transformation, and would like to work with a contractor recognised by Building Control professionals for the way a project was delivered, we would be happy to have a conversation. Do get in touch with us today!
