Which company to call for which job
A dormer. Top Mark Conversions builds dormer loft conversions, rear dormer extensions and L-shaped dormer conversions, and Truss Developments builds rear, side, L-shaped and pitched dormers.
A hip-to-gable conversion. Truss Developments’ projects include a hip-to-gable loft conversion in Beeston, and Premium Home Conversions publishes a starting price of £40,000 for one.
Rooflights. Premier Roofing Solutions installs Velux roof windows with a 10-year Velux warranty, and M.R Conversions fits Velux windows and made-to-measure shaped windows.
A long written guarantee. Roof Rooms gives a 10-year guarantee covering the structural work and all associated works, and M.R Conversions backs all its work with a 5-year guarantee as standard.
Plans and design. Roof Rooms supplies full working plans and structural calculations, XL Lofts has an in-house specialist architect, and Premium Home Conversions’ own architects offer a free initial consultation at your home.
Planning permission and building regulations for a loft conversion
Many loft conversions go ahead without planning permission, as permitted development. The Planning Portal’s limits are 40 cubic metres of extra roof space for a terraced house and 50 cubic metres for other houses, nothing higher than the existing roof, nothing beyond the existing roof slope on the side of the house that faces a highway, materials similar in appearance to the house, no verandas, balconies or raised platforms, side-facing windows obscure-glazed and, if they open, 1.7 metres above the floor, and the enlargement set back at least 20cm from the original eaves. Flats do not have these rights, and planning permission is needed where the limits are not met or permitted development rights have been removed in the area.
In Nottingham, the city council has removed some permitted development rights with Article 4 Directions on specific properties, mostly in conservation areas, in Devonshire Promenade, Foxhall Road, Sneinton, Strelley Village, Waterloo Promenade and Wellington Terrace. The council’s My Property map shows whether a home is in a conservation area, and its Minor Works Enquiry Service can say what applies before work starts.
Every loft conversion needs building regulations approval, whether or not it needs planning permission. The Planning Portal says the regulations make sure the new floor is strong enough, the structure and existing roof stay stable, there is safe escape from fire, the stairs are safely designed and there is reasonable sound insulation between the conversion and the rooms below. A typical conversion of a two-storey house needs new fire-resisting doors and sometimes partitions to protect the stairway, mains powered, interlinked smoke alarms in the stairway at each level, and a new stair to the loft, since retractable ladders are not normally acceptable. You also need to find out whether the work falls within the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
