Loft Conversion Planning Guidance
When considering converting your loft space, you need to be sure that you have permitted development rights attached to your home before you make your planning application; if you have great News, you can normally extend your loft space to the rear and side elevations by up to 40m3 for a terrace house and 50m3 for a detached that’s external volume.
Permitted development rights are a type of general planning permission granted by Parliament. You can bypass submitting a planning application if your plans fall within certain restrictions.
Permitted development only applies to houses (never flats or maisonettes), and there may also be exceptions if you live in a listed building or in a conservation area (‘Article 4’ direction).
Permitted Development guidance.
Councils have some planning guidance on their website, but as a general rule, planners will resist box-type dormers to the rear elevation and any changes to the principal elevation; the principal elevation is where your front door is sited when your home was built, it’s not worth quickly relocating the door and then applying.
Generally, smaller hipped or gable-style dormers to the rear elevation are less contentious. Horsham council have a planning guidebook that needs updating. Link here. If you need any general advice on starting your conversion, drop us an email or call happy to assist.
Below are some useful links to your local authority’s website that contain some planning guidance in relation to where you live.
As a general rule, whether you live in West Sussex-Surrey Or Kent, the planning guidance would not be that different, if you have any questions simply drop us an email, happy to help.
A few examples to help understand planning
The above image is of a box-type dormer to the rear elevation; you are probably thinking, ouch, ugly, and I agree, but the space it creates inside is the wow factor; this is the type of dormer that delivers maximum space.
The above image is of 3 evenly spaced gable-style dormers to the rear elevation; yes, I agree that it is much more pleasing to the eye and more suited to large-style houses with very high ridges.
The above image is also of 3 evenly spaced gable-style dormers to the rear elevation; the difference here is that they are slightly larger and closer together. This dormer style would still achieve practical-sized rooms and planning probably would love you. If you need planning, this is the type to go for; however, planners can be quite tricky, so be prepared to compromise.