Loft conversion can be a pretty useful thing. It’s a great way of taking space that you already own and repurposing it into something better. At the same time, a lot of people will worry that they need to try and seek planning permission for the loft conversion before they can get started on the project.

It’s pretty important to know what you can and can’t do, and we totally understand that, which is why we’ll be taking a look for you. Let’s explore whether or not you need planning permission for a loft conversion.

Generally speaking, you don’t need to have planning permission from your local authority for a loft conversion. This type of conversion will fall under something called permitted development rights. What this means is to a certain extent, you can make changes to your property as you wish, without having to involve any outside parties.

However, it’s not always the case. If you’re going to undertake work on your property which will exceed certain limits, then you will need to make sure that you have sought out planning permission. This generally points to things like altering the roof space, or extending the property. You will also have to follow a strict set of planning and building regulations, which are vital for making sure that the work you do is safe and compliant with standards.

Understanding what type of work is allowed under permitted development is tricky, but it’s also doable if you’re clever about it. According to Schedule 2, Part 1, Class B of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, certain types of loft conversions are allowed with no prior approval.

Generally, it’s best to get an architect or builder to come and have a look at what you intend to do, because they can confirm that it falls within permitted development. You should also be aware that so long as your loft conversion falls within certain parameters, it is allowed. We’ve put together the list of parameters for you here.

• Your new loft space will not be larger than 40 m³ for terraced properties, and 50 m³ for both semi detached and detached properties.

• Your loft conversion does not extend beyond the existing roof slope, at the front of the property, known as the principal elevation.

 

• Your loft conversion does not extend any higher than your existing roof at the highest point.

 

• Your loft conversion does not include any balconies, verandas, or raised elements.

 

• Your loft conversion is constructed using materials that have a similar appearance to the rest of your property.

 

• Any side facing windows on the conversion must be obscure glazed glass, to make sure that no individual can see in or out.

 

• If there are side facing windows on the conversion, they must be at least 1.7m high, as a minimum requirement.

 

• Your property must not be located in designated areas that include areas of outstanding beauty, national parks, world heritage sites, and conservation areas.

 

• Any extensions made to the roof of the property must not overhang the outer wall of the original property.

If the alterations you intend to make to your property exceed the conditions listed above, then you will need to make sure that you contact your local authority and apply for planning permission. This is something that you can do online, and nearly every local authority located in England has access to an online portal.

The government has published a selection of reading materials that provide technical guidance on permitted development rights for households, should you wish to further educate yourself.

It is important to note that the limits and conditions set down for loft conversion will only apply to houses, if you live in any of the following dwellings, then you will need to apply for planning permission regardless of the work you intend to do. This list includes maisonettes, flat, house is created through the permitted development rights to change program, converted houses, other buildings that are non dwelling in nature, or homes that may have a restriction due to their geographical area.

Planning permission costs can begin at £206, and will vary according to the specific situation that you find yourself in. The costs cover the application fee, and will naturally vary. If there are specific instances such as the involvement of a listed building, or one which is due to be demolished, no application fee is charged.

There is no timeframe for your local authority to make a decision regarding your planning application. However, most straightforward processes should not take any longer than eight weeks, with a maximum of 16 weeks if an environmental impact assessment is required.

In conclusion, whether or not your property will require planning permission is very much a case by case basis. There is no minimum requirement for making changes to a property, and in terms of planning permission, you will find there aren't masses of things to think about.

It’s very important to identify the correct instances where it is mandatory to get planning permission. It is highly recommended that you consult with a professional whenever you are attempting to get a planning permission project off the ground, and at the very least, getting a builder to provide expert advice is a sensible choice.

Permitted development rights mean that you can make a fairly large amount of modifications to the interior of your home without planning permission, but if you are attempting a particularly ambitious project, you should consult with a professional.

Generally speaking, the local authority is fairly happy to approve whatever planning permission you may be looking for, so long as it is not detrimental to others from a health and safety perspective.

​Obviously, it will be in your best interest to be polite and respectful at all times when dealing with local authorities, as they have a large degree of influence over your project.

So have you ever moved house before? Most people have and to be honest it is an ordeal and a half. What you will find is that there are so many instances where moving house is not worth the time and effort that goes into such an activity.

However, if you are someone who can have a loft conversion, then you do not have to worry about moving house. Bespoke loft conversions Derby are a good way for people to try and find the best options for their lives. Let’s talk about some of the benefits and see if we can figure out why you need to have a conversion.  

So let’s take a look at what a loft conversion actually is to help you understand what you are getting yourself into. Do you have a loft? It’s usually just used as extra storage space, which is fine, but that’s not the full potential of the space. There’s still more that you can do with it.

So what we thought that we would do is take a look at loft conversions. This occurs when you transform a space into loft conversions Derby - a space which is radically redesigned to allow someone to use the room properly. You might want to use it for a bedroom, whereas some turn it into a casual space or even a bathroom. There are no limits, except the ones that you introduce yourself.  

So, you can probably tell that one of the big questions for anybody who has a loft conversion or is considering one is why. Why should you have a loft conversion instead of moving house? Well, there are quite a few benefits to think about, and so we thought we would list some of them here.

First of all, there is no need to move house. This may seem like quite an obvious benefit, but when you consider the full implications and ramifications of not moving house, you begin to see why it’s important to consider a loft conversion. First of all, you may have sentimental attachment to your home. You may feel safe and free to express yourself within your own walls, and this is a feeling that money cannot buy.

​At the same time, you only have to pay for the loft conversion. You don’t have to take out a second mortgage to pay for your house, you don’t have to pay legal fees to estate agents and you don’t have to pay to have all of your stuff moved from one place to the next. So in addition to the more sentimental benefits, we also have some economic ones as well.  

The other main benefit comes from financial incentives. We all want to save money. There is no doubt that a loft conversion can be an investment. However, it can also yield some financial rewards later on in life if you are prepared to see it through. Having another room in your property significantly increase its value if you ever want to sell and move on. Home improvements always enhance the value of your property.

Finally, you do have to look at the benefits of the extra space. It seems in modern life that we never quite have the space that we need. However, this is not such an issue when you have a loft conversion. It is no secret that a loft conversion can give you the extra space that you need. Because it’s just a blank room, the potential for what you do with the loft conversion is quite high. You could very easily transform it into a spare bedroom, a room for socialising in, or even a bathroom. As we previously said, there are no limits to what you can do with the loft conversion, which makes it a good choice for people who need the extra space.

A loft conversion is absolutely a good idea. It really does help to provide you with the resources that you need to be able to take the most opportunity of the space you have in your home. A problem that a lot of people have is that they do not ever take advantage of space properly.

​They always treat it as being some kind of issue, something that is wrong. No one stops and wonders how they can really get the most from space, so they don’t ever have enough of it. The loft conversion helps to change all of this, and gives you the freedom you could need to enjoy your space.

So in conclusion, there are a lot of reasons why he would benefit from having a loft conversion in your home. It’s much cheaper than trying to move house, and it gives you much more value on your property as well as giving you the extra space that you need. We all have this potential space sat waiting. No one looks at the loft and thinks of it as being an opportunity. It doesn’t even crossed people’s minds.

So, instead of trying to utilise their loft properly, people just move house. And this isn’t always the best plan. We cannot emphasise enough just how useful of conversion can be. It’s a great way of making sure that you have more space, that you can convert into any type of room imaginable. You might want another bedroom, you might want a socialising room, or you might just want extra bathroom.

The options are limitless, it’s because there are so many different choices that it’s easy for people to enjoy themselves. However, there is no doubt that a lot of people will benefit from having a loft conversion and thus should consider it for their property.

​Rather than leave your home, which has always been a place of safety and security, why don’t you instead think about just converting an existing area?

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