Planning Information: Improvements
Loft Conversions
Planning permission is not normally required. However, permission is required where you extend or alter the roof space and it exceeds specified limits and conditions.
- A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres for terraced houses.
- A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached houses.
- If your property fronts a highway, you cannot extend beyond the roof plane which fronts the highway.
- No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof.
- Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
- No verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
- Side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor.
- Roof extensions not to be permitted development in designated areas*.
- Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20cm from the eaves.
* Designated areas include national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.
What this means is:-
Providing you meet the criteria (set out above), you can enlarge your loft by up to 40 cubic metres in the case of a terraced house and 50 cubic metres in the case of a semi-detached and detached house without the need for planning permission.
With roof alterations, the emphasis is very much on appearance and this is reflected in the above criteria. Materials used have to be similar to the existing, the alteration cannot exceed the height of the existing roof and you cannot introduce a veranda, balcony or raised platform into the scheme without it needing planning permission.
