Do You Need Planning Permission for a Loft Conversion?

13th May 2022

Have you been planning a loft conversion? If so, then one of the first questions you may have asked yourself might be: “do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?” This question is a vital point to consider, as the answer could significantly influence your final planning decisions. And with this in mind today, our expert team here at Extension Plans UK is on hand to help you find out a little more about the intricacies of planning a loft conversion and whether loft conversion planning permission is an important requirement to apply for.

Do I Need Planning Permission for a Loft Conversion? 

Have you been planning a loft conversion to add a little extra space and room to your home? There are countless excellent reasons why you might want to consider a loft conversion. Not only is it far more affordable in many cases than attempting a full conversion, but loft conversions are also incredibly effective for making the most of otherwise unused space. They also add value to your home and, through additional insulation, may even help with regulating your home’s temperature – cutting your energy bills.

However, before you begin considering a loft conversion, it’s vital to consider the regulations behind these. Indeed, loft conversions aren’t quite as simple as sticking a bed up in the loft and being done with it. There’s a lot more going into this decision, from getting professionally drawn plans to ensuring the structural integrity of the space and so on.

But what about planning? One factor many people find themselves unsure about is planning permission. After all, you might argue, you’re not officially building a new structure – so, where does this leave you? Thankfully, most loft conversions won’t require planning permission since they can usually be completed through permitted development alone.

When You Might Need Planning Permission for a Loft Conversion 

Most loft conversions do not require planning permission since they usually fall under the permitted development category and are much easier to obtain. However, it is essential to consider that permitted development may not always be applicable. For example, if you have already used up permitted development rights on your property, you may not be able to convert the loft readily and so will still need to apply for full planning permission to complete your loft conversion.

In addition, if you are planning on changing the external boundaries of the loft conversion – such as increasing the height of the roof – you may also need planning permission granted before you can begin the work. Discussing this factor with your local architect may help you find the most suitable approach for your loft conversion needs.

 

Can My Neighbour Stop Me From Applying for a Loft Conversion?

In most cases, your neighbour won’t be able to prevent you from applying for a loft conversion so long as you have adhered to all of the necessary rules and requirements. As such, if you have checked that permitted development is suitable for your loft conversion, or if you have obtained full planning permission for your loft conversion in cases when permitted development isn’t possible, they shouldn’t be able to stop you from applying for a loft conversion.

However, they can still raise objections when applying for planning permission if you need this, which may be considered as part of the final decision. Alternatively, if you attempt a loft conversion without planning permission or without completing building regulations, your neighbour could potentially complain (which may result in you having to stop the conversion). 

The main takeaway here is: always do things by the book. If you have followed all necessary regulations for your loft conversion, your neighbours shouldn’t have any need or ability to prevent your loft conversion from going ahead.

The only exception here might be if you live in a semi-detached or terraced property, in which case, you may still need to obtain permission in the form of a “Party Wall Agreement” to complete your loft conversion. In such a scenario, it’s always worth staying on your neighbours’ good sides if you ever need their cooperation down the line (even if you’re not quite ready to apply for a loft conversion just yet).

Don’t Forget – Planning Permission and Building Regulations are Different Things!

At this point, we’ve outlined the fact that you won’t necessarily need planning permission to complete a loft conversion for your home. However, it’s crucial to consider as part of this how imperative it is to obtain building regulations for your loft conversion.

Many people assume that building regulations and planning permission are one in the same thing, but this is not always the case. In fact, in most cases, building regulations are still important for any conversion you make to your home to ensure that the property remains strong and structurally sound – and this includes your loft conversion. 

While planning permission likely isn’t necessary for your loft conversion, you will still need to apply for building regulations. Fortunately, this is made much simpler when you partner with a local professional architect to help with your loft conversion.

Thinking of Converting your Loft? Let Extension Plans UK Help

Have you been planning a loft conversion? If so, the great news is that you most likely won’t need to obtain full planning permission from the local council for your loft conversion. The loft conversion doesn’t exceed the boundaries expressed in previous plans. However, this may not always be the case. For example, perhaps you have been planning a loft conversion and also want to change any structural aspects of the house significantly, such as increasing the height of the roof to make your loft conversion more spacious. You may still need to consider applying for loft conversion planning permission with your local authority in such a scenario.

Of course, every authority has slightly different rules. As such, if you’re still feeling a little unsure about whether you need loft conversion planning permission, we’d recommend discussing this with your local council or local architectural teams for further, region-specific advice.