Class B
The enlargement of a dwelling
house consisting of an addition or
alteration to its roof.
Planning Permission
Loft conversion (Roof extension)
A loft conversion for your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, provided certain limits and conditions are met.
1. Roof extensions are NOT permitted development for houses on designated land*.
2. To be permitted development any additional roof space created must not exceed these volume allowances:
* 40 cubic metres for terraced houses.
* 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached houses.
Bear in mind that any previous roof space additions must be included within this volume allowance. Although you may not have created additional space a previous owner may have done so.
3. An extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts a highway is NOT permitted development.
4. Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
5. No part of the extension to be higher than the highest part of the existing roof.
6. Verandas, balconies or raised platforms are NOT permitted development.
7. Any side-facing windows must be obscure glazed and non-opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which it is installed.
8. Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as is practicable, at least 20cms from the eaves. The 20cm distance is measured along the
roof plane.
9. Work on a loft or a roof may affect bats. You need to consider protected species when planning work of this type. A survey may be needed, and if bats are using the building, a licence may be required.
Building Regulations
This section provides guidance for making alterations to the loft space of an existing house which is no more than two storeys high. Requirements for alterations to an apartment or other dwellings like maisonettes, or houses over three storeys, will be similar but may be more extensive and possibly extend to other parts of the building. The regulations will be applied to ensure, for example:
·the structural strength of the new floor is sufficient
·the stability of the structure (including the existing roof) is not endangered
·safe escape from fire
·safely designed stairs to the new floor
·reasonable sound insulation between the conversion and the rooms below.
You may wish to make these alterations to enhance the storage facilities available or to increase the living space of the home. If you plan to make the loft space more accessible or more habitable by, for example, installing a stair to it and improving it by boarding it out and lining the walls / rafters etc, more extensive work is likely to be required and the Building Regulations are likely to apply. It is recommended that you contact Building Control to discuss your proposal and for further advice.
Boarding-out for storage
In most homes, the existing timber joists that form the "floor" of the loft space ( i.e. the ceiling of the rooms below) will not have been designed to support a significant weight (known as "load"). The joists tie the pitched members of the roof together to prevent them spreading and support the ceiling lining of the rooms below.
An excessive additional load, for example from storage, it may mean that the joists are loaded beyond their design capacity. If you decide to lay flooring boards over the existing joists in the loft space, then this may require a Building Regulations Application to Building Control. Your local Building Control body will be able to advise you on this issue.
Creating a liveable space
If you decide to create a liveable space in an existing loft space of a home it is likely to require a range of alterations. Many of these could have an adverse impact on the building and its occupants if they are not properly thought out, planned and undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the legislation.
The enlargement of a dwelling
house consisting of an addition or
alteration to its roof.
Planning Permission
Loft conversion (Roof extension)
A loft conversion for your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, provided certain limits and conditions are met.
1. Roof extensions are NOT permitted development for houses on designated land*.
2. To be permitted development any additional roof space created must not exceed these volume allowances:
* 40 cubic metres for terraced houses.
* 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached houses.
Bear in mind that any previous roof space additions must be included within this volume allowance. Although you may not have created additional space a previous owner may have done so.
3. An extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts a highway is NOT permitted development.
4. Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
5. No part of the extension to be higher than the highest part of the existing roof.
6. Verandas, balconies or raised platforms are NOT permitted development.
7. Any side-facing windows must be obscure glazed and non-opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 metres above the floor of the room in which it is installed.
8. Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as is practicable, at least 20cms from the eaves. The 20cm distance is measured along the
roof plane.
9. Work on a loft or a roof may affect bats. You need to consider protected species when planning work of this type. A survey may be needed, and if bats are using the building, a licence may be required.
Building Regulations
This section provides guidance for making alterations to the loft space of an existing house which is no more than two storeys high. Requirements for alterations to an apartment or other dwellings like maisonettes, or houses over three storeys, will be similar but may be more extensive and possibly extend to other parts of the building. The regulations will be applied to ensure, for example:
·the structural strength of the new floor is sufficient
·the stability of the structure (including the existing roof) is not endangered
·safe escape from fire
·safely designed stairs to the new floor
·reasonable sound insulation between the conversion and the rooms below.
You may wish to make these alterations to enhance the storage facilities available or to increase the living space of the home. If you plan to make the loft space more accessible or more habitable by, for example, installing a stair to it and improving it by boarding it out and lining the walls / rafters etc, more extensive work is likely to be required and the Building Regulations are likely to apply. It is recommended that you contact Building Control to discuss your proposal and for further advice.
Boarding-out for storage
In most homes, the existing timber joists that form the "floor" of the loft space ( i.e. the ceiling of the rooms below) will not have been designed to support a significant weight (known as "load"). The joists tie the pitched members of the roof together to prevent them spreading and support the ceiling lining of the rooms below.
An excessive additional load, for example from storage, it may mean that the joists are loaded beyond their design capacity. If you decide to lay flooring boards over the existing joists in the loft space, then this may require a Building Regulations Application to Building Control. Your local Building Control body will be able to advise you on this issue.
Creating a liveable space
If you decide to create a liveable space in an existing loft space of a home it is likely to require a range of alterations. Many of these could have an adverse impact on the building and its occupants if they are not properly thought out, planned and undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the legislation.
Summary
A Loft Conversion may not require planning permission but will probably require building control approval.
A Loft Conversion may not require planning permission but will probably require building control approval.
Alpha Surveys
© Copyright 2008 Alpha Surveys. All rights reserved
© Copyright 2008 Alpha Surveys. All rights reserved
Alpha Surveys
Planning for the future
Tel : 0151 6018887
Definitions of terms used in this guide:
IMPORTANT NOTE: The permitted development allowances described here apply to houses, not flats, maisonettes or other buildings. You should check with your Local Planning Authority whether permitted development rights apply - they may have been removed by what are known as Article 4 directions.
Other consents may be required if your house is listed or in a designated area. Designated land includes: conservation areas, World Heritage Sites, national parks and the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These may have
some restricted permitted development rights for
householders. It is better to contact your LPA in such
circumstances.
‘Original house’ - The term ‘original house’ means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you
may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.
‘Designated land’ - Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of 0utstanding
Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.
Installation, alteration or replacement of a chimney, flue or soil and vent pipe: Read guidance on the permitted development regime under Class G of the regime which came into force
on 1 October 2008.
DISCLAIMER: Users should note that this is an introductory guide and is not a definitive source of
legal information.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The permitted development allowances described here apply to houses, not flats, maisonettes or other buildings. You should check with your Local Planning Authority whether permitted development rights apply - they may have been removed by what are known as Article 4 directions.
Other consents may be required if your house is listed or in a designated area. Designated land includes: conservation areas, World Heritage Sites, national parks and the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These may have
some restricted permitted development rights for
householders. It is better to contact your LPA in such
circumstances.
‘Original house’ - The term ‘original house’ means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Although you
may not have built an extension to the house, a previous owner may have done so.
‘Designated land’ - Designated land includes national parks and the Broads, Areas of 0utstanding
Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.
Installation, alteration or replacement of a chimney, flue or soil and vent pipe: Read guidance on the permitted development regime under Class G of the regime which came into force
on 1 October 2008.
DISCLAIMER: Users should note that this is an introductory guide and is not a definitive source of
legal information.
Standard Service
Includes a full dimensional survey of your property plus the Alpha Surveys Architectural planning package.
Includes a full dimensional survey of your property plus the Alpha Surveys Architectural planning package.
Budget Service
Includes the planning package without a dimensional survey. The client must provide the required dimensional information and also make the necessary submissions to the Planning and building Control Departments.
Includes the planning package without a dimensional survey. The client must provide the required dimensional information and also make the necessary submissions to the Planning and building Control Departments.
Loft Conversion