Permitted Development & Planning Permission

The most important stage of any home renovation project is the planning stage when you need to decide whether your project falls within permitted development or needs planning permission. This can shape the size and type of project you choose, as a project requiring planning permission needs more time to design and construct, than a project which falls within permitted development. For a loft conversion, there are strict parameters for permitted development, which allows you to build without requiring permission from your local council.

 

Permitted development are a set of design boundaries which allow you to construct or change a building without needing to ask permission from the local council. If your project falls outside of these parameters, then you must apply for planning permission from your local building authority which can take up to 8 weeks. For a loft conversion, permitted development restrictions are as follows:

 

  • You can add up to 40 cubic metres of new roof space for terraced houses.
  • You can add up to 50 cubic metres of new roof space for detached and semi-detached houses.
  • Your extension cannot extend beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts the highway.
  • Your extension cannot be higher than the highest part of the roof.
  • The materials you use must be similar in appearance to the existing house.
  • You cannot have a veranda, a balcony or a raised platform within permitted development.
  • If you have any side-facing windows, they must be obscure-glazed and any opening must be at least 1.7m above the floor.
  • Roof extensions are not permitted development in certain areas, like conservation areas and heritage zones.
  • Loft extensions, apart from hip-to-gable ones, must be set back at least 20cm from the original eaves.
  • The roof extension cannot overhang the outer face of the wall of the original house.

 

When your surveyor visits your home for a site survey, they will discuss what can be done within these restrictions or whether your project must go through your local council. If your project needs to gain planning permission, your architect will make these applications on your behalf after you have confirmed the design you want for your loft conversion.

 

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Typically, an application for planning permission will take 8 weeks to be approved or denied. In the situation that your plans are denied, Simply Loft will amend your plans free of charge to reapply for permission. We cannot guarantee a project will be approved by your local planning authority, but we have many years of experience and can accurately estimate whether a project will gain approval.

 

If you live within a conservation area or heritage zone, you will almost always have to apply or planning permission from your council. Our architects have lots of experience designing loft conversions in these areas and will use other projects in your area to gauge whether approval will be gained for your project.

 

If you are thinking about having a loft conversion, contact a member of the Simply Loft team today on 0800 917 7571!