Touchstone Lofts can undertake any planning applications if required. We are experts in London loft conversion planning and offer a comprehensive service for any householder or developer seeking to develop their property.

Most loft conversions do not require planning. The only situations that require planning are the following:

  • If the loft conversion is to be undertaken in a demise defined as a flat or a maisonette.
  • If the conversion is in a building that is listed grade 1 or 2.
  • If the property is located in a conservation area. Here, the rules are complicated so please note our consultant will need to investigate the full details of the type of restrictions that may be applied.
  • Areas of outstanding natural beauty and greenbelt countryside.
  • There may be specific covenants on your property which will be on your title deeds.

Most loft conversions are considered a “Permitted Development” or PD. A “Letter of Lawful Development” can be obtained which is a legal document confirming the development as legal. A Certificate Of Lawful Development takes eight weeks once validated by the planning department. Permitted Development rights are a set of rules which allow you to build certain extensions and improvements to your home without the need for a full planning application.

Permitted developments are a powerful and often misunderstood route to development. More often than not, many developments can be done using this method of planning than the more common route of planning permission allows. In certain situations a combination of both permitted development and planning is required for a project to maximise and achieve your desired development.

Specific volumes are attributable to the size of the loft extension you can build. We can provide you with all the information you require when our consultant visits.

Planning rules were changed in 2008 making the loft conversion process much easier. A detached or semi detached property has 50m3 of extension allowed, and a terraced property has 40m3 allowable. This is the amount of added volume you can add to your roof when you build your attic conversion.

If you have existing extensions, even they are roof extensions your “Permitted Development Rights” may still be intact, so please allow us to advise you when we visit. In some cases there may be a covenant on your property which could affect extensions. These are sometimes common on new developments where the builder or the planners have restricted some extensions to protect the look of the development.

Apart from the restrictions on the amount of volume you can add to your roof there are other permitted development rules which must be adhered to when you are building a loft conversion through this route. These include:

  • The height of the roof cannot not be elevated.
  • Front dormers are not permitted, and side dormers where the property is on a corner of a road and the dormer facing the road are also not considered to be a permitted development.
  • The dormer needs to be stepped back 200mm from the eaves.
  • Materials like roof tiles used should be similar as existing materials used for the property.

More information can be found below:

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/loftconversion