The Need of Planning Permission for Loft Conversion

01 Apr 2021

It is not essential to have planning permission for loft conversions as they fall under the permitted rights. You need planning permission when the plans surpass certain limits and conditions like changing the roof area beyond its limits. You should abide by the building regulations to ensure that the building work is completed safely.

Planning permission for your loft conversion

When it is about navigating the entire planning permission, you may feel confused. Whether or not you will need planning permission actually depends on the type of work to perform and extent of these tasks.

Read to know if loft conversion belongs to the permitted development and determine what you should know about planning permission.

When does loft conversion belong to the permitted development?

The permitted development rules summarize the work that can be done without seeking for planning permission. The conditions and restrictions of how the permitted development will be applicable to loft conversions have been summarized. In order to know if or not you require planning permission, it is a good decision to hire an architect for confirming it. Specialists of a loft conversion company in London have said that loft conversion belongs to the permitted development and does not need planning permission as long as it fulfills these conditions:

• The loft space will not be bigger than 40 cubic metres for the terraced houses and 50 cubic metres for detached as well as semi-detached houses.
  
• The loft conversion need not go beyond the plane of your present roof slope at the home’s front.
• Loft conversion won’t extend greater in comparison to the highest part of present roof.
• Loft conversion won’t include any balconies, raised platforms or verandas.
• Loft conversion is formed with materials that are quite similar in appearance with the remaining house.
• Any windows which are facing sideways should be obscure-glazed.
• The windows that are side faced should be at least 1.7m from the ground.
• Your house is not situated in certain areas such as – national parks, conservation areas, World Heritage Sites and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
• The roof extension having the exception of extensions should be set back for at least 20cm from actual eaves.
• The roof extension should not overhang outer wall of your house.
• In case of necessary alterations that go beyond the limitations and conditions, you should seek for the planning permission from the local authority. Luckily, this can be done online and you may apply to the local authority with the planning portal. 
• If you want additional information on the permitted development, then go through the technical guidance on permitted development rights for the householders.

The conditions for loft conversion permitted development are applicable to houses, and planning permission will have to be sought when you live in any of them:

• Converted houses
• Maisonettes
• Flats
• Houses made through permitted development right to change use
• Other non-dwelling buildings

Houses in the areas where there is a planning condition or other restrictions that restricts permitted development rights

How much will be the cost for planning permission?

If you need to submit an application for your planning permission, then there will be an application fees to be paid. The costs for planning permission differ greatly and it begins at £206 for necessary extensions and alterations done for a single dwelling house and thereby, increasing from there. In case of certain applications like the listed buildings or the ones to be destroyed in a conservative area, you do not need to pay the application fees.

How much time will planning permission require?

The planning authority is compelled to take the decision on your planning application soon. It should not take more than eight weeks for creating a determination on the straightforward planning application. This has to be 13 weeks for a large or complicated application and 16 weeks when an Environmental Impact Assessment must be done.

Building regulations for loft conversion

Despite whether you should seek planning permission for loft conversion, you should follow appropriate building regulations, as has been outlined on the Government website, and seek the approval of building regulation through the planning portal. Building regulations have become extremely important, as they ensure any loft conversion is stable and strong with the stairs installed properly and it is safe enough to escape at the time of fire. The kind of building regulations you require actually depends on the kind of conversion you plan:

• Create the storage space: If you need to convert the loft into a storage space, then you may want the approval of a building regulation. In general, the timber joists act as loft floor that won’t be designed to support significant weight. When there is excess weight on the joists, this may load them beyond the design capacity and you need the approval of building regulations for complete safety.
  
• Make your space livable: If you wish to convert the loft into a livable space, then you have to seek approval of the building regulation. The complete loft conversions in London usually need an extensive range of alterations to be made that might affect actual structural integrity of the building. When the building regulations are not followed properly, any conversion may put the building as well as its occupants at greater risk.

Thus, search strings like, “loft conversion company near me” will enable you to find the one in your area and get the work done successfully.