N Wales: 01745 449234
Chester: 01244 752478
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Crown Loft Conversions
Stay in your much loved home !
Loft conversion Planning Permission.
About Planning
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.
These are specific to "the enlargement of a dwellinghouse consisting of an addition or alteration to its roof" as detailed in Schedule 2, Part 1, Class B of the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended).
There are different rules for "any other alteration to the roof of a dwellinghouse" (Schedule 2, Part 1, Class C) which are detailed in our 'Roof' section.
A loft conversion for your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:
A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres additional roof space for terraced houses*
A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres additional roof space for detached and semi-
No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that 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-
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 original eaves
The roof enlargement cannot overhang the outer face of the wall of the original house.
Please note: For an explanation of how to apply the 20cm set back condition please see pages 35-
*Bear in mind that any previous roof space additions must be included within the volume allowances listed above. Although you may not have created additional space a previous owner may have done so.
**Designated areas include national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.
Please note: the permitted development allowances described here apply to houses not flats, maisonettes or other buildings. View guidance on flats and maisonettes here.
Permitted Development for householders – Technical Guidance
You are strongly advised to read a technical guidance document produced by the Government to help understand how permitted development rules might apply to your circumstances.
View 'Permitted development for householders – Technical guidance' on Gov.uk
Case studies
Miss Smith wanted to build a loft conversion on her Victorian terraced house in Chester.
Planning permission
"Planning a loft conversion felt like a huge project, not to mention a big investment. At first, I had no idea whether I needed to apply for planning permission and was worried about asking an architect to draw up plans or talk to builders until I knew.
I consulted with an architect, who drew up plans and submitted them to my local authority on my behalf. I tracked my application online through the Portal and found out my application had been refused before my architect had been sent the letter!"
"Although my first application was turned down, I now knew enough about the planning process to understand the reasons that were given. My plans were altered according to the recommendations made by my local planning authority and re-
My application was approved, with conditions, the second time around."
Building regulations
"When I applied for planning permission, I had no idea I would need to know about Building Regulations as well. I had assumed that this was something the builders would deal with.
Although my architect provided detailed drawings which would help make sure my loft room complied with Building Regulations, I checked up on the Portal about my own responsibilities before any building work began."
North Wales : 01745 449234