Loft Conversions Planning Permission
Planning permission is concerned with all work that is carried out external to the original house structure. Not all changes to your house need planning permission however, as there are many renovations and amendments that are covered by the rights for 'Permitted Development'.
Loft Conversion Permitted Development
Not all habitations are covered by the rules of permitted development however, for instance flats and units were only included in May 2007. Other dwellings not covered are those in heritage and conservation areas and areas of outstanding natural beauty. Also, some areas have had their permitted development rights removed by their local authority. It is safest to call Absolute Lofts or your local council to see if your loft conversion will be allowed under permitted development or if you need planning permission.
The rules for permitted development, when applied to loft conversions, are briefly set out below:
You cannot have any part of your dwelling exceed the height of the highest part of the existing roof.
No part of your dwelling can, as a result of the works, exceed beyond the plane of any existing roof slope that fronts a highway (highways are an ill-defined term but include all public roads and most footpaths, bridleways and byways).
Your loft cannot expand your dwelling beyond 40 cubic metres in the case of a terraced house, or 50 cubic metres in any other case (eg semi-detached house).
When all developments are taken into account, including other extensions, your renovated dwelling must not exceed 50 cubic metres or 10%, of the original dwelling (whichever is larger) in the case of a terraced house, or 70 cubic metres or 15% of the original dwelling whichever is the greater in any other case.
The maximum total of all developments is limited to 115 cubic metres for any house type
If your planned loft conversion or renovation isn't covered by permitted development, you will need to apply to council for planning permission. This takes from 8 - 12 weeks and you should budget an extra £1,000 to cover planning approval.
