London Loft Conversion Blog

Planning Permission

Fitting a toilet in your roof space

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Loft conversions in London have become amazingly versatile. They are often self-contained living quarters with a kitchen and bathroom, complete with a toilet. An en suite loft conversion in London is a great selling point, but it must be done properly. We at Landmark Lofts have many years of experience fitting toilets in attic conversions in London.

Loft conversions, in London or elsewhere, have strict building regulations when it comes to toilets, and this must be taken into account when planning the layout of the loft area. The loft must have an adequate water supply so that the cistern can fill and flush effectively. There are numerous modern cisterns designed to overcome this problem, so it should not hamper your loft extension. London has a lot of bathroom stores featuring numerous different kinds of toilets.

Your new loft will need to satisfy building regulations as regards to sanitation. Your loft engineer will normally suggest the new toilet is sited on top of the existing system. If you are lucky, you may be able to connect the drainage from your loft toilet direct to the one downstairs. If not, you are allowed a space of up to 2m between the flush and the waste pipe.

A macerator lavatory is a modern way of getting around the problem. These rely on an electric pump system and can be put anywhere, and aren’t that expensive to install.

We at Landmark Lofts routinely fit toilets and plumbing systems into our loft conversions in London, and will be pleased to discuss your unique project with you.

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Loft conversions in London properties with two or more storeys

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Normally, loft conversions in London involve adding a room to the roof space – in effect, creating a second floor. However, what if your home already has a second floor? Many Queen Anne, Georgian and modern builds are built like this, and while we at Landmark Lofts build these conversions, they do involve some extra thought.

When it comes to attic conversions, London boroughs have specialised planning and building rules relating to extending into the roof space. For example, loft conversions in conservation areas – especially if they are Queen Anne or Regency built – are frowned upon. This depends on the size of the conversion, however. Non-listed older buildings with tastefully constructed half dormers are often the norm in some districts.

However, even if planning laws don’t thwart you, building regulations might – especially when it comes to fire safety. In order to be legal either the stairs must enter the main stair well of the second storey, or there must be a safe external method of escape from the loft. We at Landmark Lofts have extensive experience in installing interior stairways, which are far more aesthetic than fire escapes.

In addition, the floor of the loft conversion must have a fire barrier of at least ½ hour, which means fire doors must be fitted. All other doors in the property must have self closers, or be fire doors.

If you are thinking of having a loft conversion in a London property of two floors or more, why not give us at Landmark Lofts a call?

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Permitted development: mansards?

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

A mansard is the favoured style for many London loft conversions on Victorian or other period properties as a mansard does not ’stand out’ from the roof as much as a dormer loft conversion.

The problem with mansards is that some planners dislike them altogether and many local authorities require you to obtain planning permission for a mansard loft conversion in London even if you have permitted development rights. This is because under permitted development you cannot extend ‘beyond the curtilage’ of your property (i.e. not beyond your legal boundaries).

A mansard will normally involve raising the party wall(s) between you and your neighbour(s) and because the boundary is halfway down the middle of the party wall you are technically extending beyond the curtilage of your property by approximately 4.5″ by raising the whole wall.

We think that this policy is totally counterproductive as it simply encourages owners of properties to opt for large dormers that are often unsympathetic to the character of their home.

We have however had a small victory recently by utilising a ‘loop-hole’ in the law. So long as you and your neighbour(s) both have permitted development rights there is nothing to stop you agreeing with one another to each raise your own half of the party wall at the same time. This way no one is extending beyond the curtilage of their property: you are both merely building on your own side of the boundary (at the same time). Practically the wall will be built by us on behalf of both of you as we would normally do.

This approach allows you to build a mansard (with your neighbour’s consent) without the need to apply for planning approval thereby resulting in an aesthetically pleasing London loft conversion for you and the opportunity for your neighbour to easily extend their own loft in the future.

We have recently tested this approach in one of the London boroughs and, despite some argument with the planners, they eventually accepted that this would indeed be lawful development. A victory for common sense and good building design!

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Do I have enough head height?

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

Some roofs lend themselves more easily to loft conversions than others.

One of the main things that you need to check is the existing height of your loft. The way to do this is to measure from the bottom of the existing ridge beam (the timber beam running below the ridge) to the top of the existing ceiling joists. If this measurement is at least 2.1m then you will normally be able to convert your loft easily.

If you do not have the 2.1m then it is often possible to have your loft converted. There are a number of options which include lowering your top floor ceilings (which really isn’t as dramatic as it sounds), using special timbers and steels to gain as much additional height as possible, or raising the ridge of the roof slightly. If you live in a road where there are many types of roofs and loft conversions in London then it may be possible to re-pitch your roof to gain even more space, although this does require planning permission.

Please feel free to call or complete our contact form and speak to one of our friendly designers who will advise you of the best way to optimise your head height.

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New permitted development law

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

As of October 2008 the planning laws in England and Wales were changed to allow for certain types of development to proceed without the need to obtain planning permission. Most London loft conversions do not now require planning permission so long as the volume being added by the dormer, mansard or hip-to-gable is less than 40 cubic metres for terraced properties or 50 cubic metres for semi-detached and detached properties. This is called your ‘permitted development’ allowance. Most properties have permitted development unless:

  • You live in a conservation area
  • Your property is a listed building
  • You live in a flat (whether purpose built or converted)
  • Your loft conversion would be clearly visible from a public highway

The new laws  are particularly helpful if you require a hip to gable loft conversion as most councils previously would not allow this type of change to the roof, although it would now be allowed under your permitted development.

As you would expect, most planning departments have yet to get fully up to speed on the new laws so it is to be expected that conflicting advice will be given by the different local authorities. We have already helped some of our clients to achieve bigger loft conversions in London applying the new laws by having our in-house architect and planning consultant make representations to the planners. Yet another way in which Landmark Lofts is continuing to raise the benchmark!

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