Will my loft ideas require planning permission?
Often in residential property concerning scenarios, you will need to get planning permission for converting a loft or attic into a liveable space. Adding an extra space in your attic or altering the roof space beyond its current limits can affect the structural integrity of your house, that is why you may need to follow certain restrictions in place for loft conversions.
Sometimes alterations to an apartment or in maisonettes can extend to other parts of the building. Hence regulations need to be applied to ensure:
The rules of authorised development describe a few specific conversion works that should carry out without the need to seek planning permission.
To find out whether your loft conversion needs any planning permission or not, you can consult with your builder. However, your loft conversion may not need any consent if it's meeting with such conditions:
These above mentioned conditions are only applicable for houses. You may need to seek planning permission if you live in:
Fortunately, now you can easily apply for planning permission online, via the planning portal.
You still need to follow certain relevant building regulations which are outlined on the Government website and from the planning portal, you can seek building regulation approval. Having these permissions assure that your loft conversion is structurally stable and secure and have been established accurately. However, building regulations requirement and type depend on the kind of conversion.
Such as if you are planning to have a liveable space and want to use it as a regular part of your house, then you may have to seek building regulation approval. Creating an additional space needs a wide range of alterations and could affect the original building architectural integrity .
As per 2019 Annual Homeowner Survey, 27% of homeowners found that planning permission is a significant obstruction for getting home renovations done. An experienced and right contractor can help in determining local planning restrictions, and preferences to ensure that project is tailored accordingly.
Though before you apply for permission, meet with your local planning authority for more understanding, as it can help them in dealing with your planning application when you go for the formal submission.
Contact Building Control to discuss your proposal, and they will also let you know if any documentation or process has to fulfil before starting the work.
Important building regulation that you should consider are:
Party Wall Agreement
You need a party wall agreement to ensure that work is done appropriately and won't endanger your neighbour's property if your conversion is going to affect the wall that joins your house to your neighbour's. This agreement will be done between your neighbour, and you and you both need to sign on the papers. Before signing off the papers to proceed with work and to go ahead, a surveyor comes to inspect the designs and as per the site and other things, may ask for any further documentation.
Visit the government planning website for more details.