Loft Conversion - Advice

RICHARDGREENLAND

Always better to keep things level and true as far as possible, a little extra work now is worth it, as it saves problems multiplying as the task progresses. That's my advice!

Rich

maryjane01

How long does planning permission last for? We want to do a loft conversion but we want to save for it rather then remortgage so we are looking at having it dnoe in about 2 years time. I read something in the paper the other weeknd about the changing in planning laws which makes small extensions easier to do, but for some reason it will be more difficult to get planning for a loft conversion. I didn't quite understand the article. If we got the planning permission now would it last for 2 or 3 years? We are in a terrace and would like a dorma at the back, we are in the London borough of Lewisham if that makes any difference.

Thanks!

RICHARDGREENLAND

Well you will have to check with the planning dept, but if the dormer is on the back you don't normally need PP, unless you are in a conservation area. You will need regulations consent, tho, thru building control, also at your local authority.

Rich

Snapelover

We have our calcs and plans, the home loan is almost sorted and the loft conversion comany (who come recommended by a few people who are in the process of having a loft conversion) have 'pencilled' us in for mid January 2009 but me and the hubby have misunderstood the dimensions and today Building Control rang us from our local council regarding a problem with the plans. Whilst on the phone they mentioned that the maximum head height is only going to be 1.7m (we thought it was 2.1 m) but upon checking our sketches we have discovered that the 2.1 head height was with the first floor ceilings being lowered to gain more room in the loft.

Now I have spoken to the loft company today about this and they said that it would add about £1000-£1500 onto the price quoted (which isn't a problem) and we have high ceilings with plenty of height above existing windows so none of that is a problem but I worry about the actual work involved.

The loft converter said that they do a room a day and install the new ceilings before removing the old ones so it's all clean mess and not dirty mess but I know for sure when hubby comes in from work tonight and I tell him this he's not gonna be happy because of the disruption which we will have to put up with.

Has anyone had to have their ceilings lowered in order to have their loft converted to a decent head height? If so, was it a LOT of hassle or not as bad as you thought.
It's the idea of moving EVERYTHING out of everyone's rooms and then having to put it all back which is bothering me and, of course, the mess.

Snapelover

Anyone got any advice for my post above???

jd1000

Any more advice? We're looking at doing a loft conversion.

Does anyone know if there is a maximum width for a dormer? Our loft is 10metres long and 3 wide, ideally Id like the dormer to run the whole length giving great headroom....

Doozergirl

jd1000 wrote: »

Any more advice? We're looking at doing a loft conversion.

Does anyone know if there is a maximum width for a dormer? Our loft is 10metres long and 3 wide, ideally Id like the dormer to run the whole length giving great headroom....

You'll need planning permission for something that big - it's simply up to the planners to decide whether what you want is in keeping with the surroundings etc.

Some loft conversions like you describe can look awful - over-development of the plot. Be very careful that you don't devalue the house in the process.

Snapelover

jd1000 wrote: »

Any more advice? We're looking at doing a loft conversion.

Does anyone know if there is a maximum width for a dormer? Our loft is 10metres long and 3 wide, ideally Id like the dormer to run the whole length giving great headroom....

Good news!! On 14th November 2008 I spoke to our local planning department as one of our intended loft conversion companies had informed me that some planning permission rules had been changed. Planning permission is no longer required if you stick to the following rules. This was my reply:

"A dormer extension on the rear of your property would be ‘permitted development’ under the provisions contained in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(Amendment)(No.2)(England) Order 2008, which came into force on the 1st October 2008, provided the volume is no greater than 50m3, the materials used on the exterior are similar in appearance to those of the exterior of the existing dwellinghouse; and the edge of the enlargement closest to the eaves of the original roof shall, so far as practicable, be not less than 20 centimetres from the eaves of the original roof."

I then enquired about the fact that the rear of our property overlooks a public highway and received the reply:

" I would confirm that it is still ‘PD’"

latecomer

(offending post now removed.)

Advertising isn't allowed. Reported.

speccyget

I am considering buying a new build in view of extending into the loft in the near future. The trouble is, I'm on a pretty tight budget. I spoke with the site manager today (where the house is being built), he reckons that the loft can be converted but will probably need a dormer. That sounds very expensive. If I buy this house I will have about 20k to spend on a conversion. Idealy I would like 2 bedrooms and at least 1 shower room. Does anyone know if this is feasible within my budget? Daft question I know. But I cant get any actual quotes because A- I dont own the property and B- The house isn't even built yet.