Opting for a loft conversion is a good way to make your space more functional. It’s an efficient key towards a bigger space, which you can use for various purposes. Whether you want wider storage, a new room, or an additional workspace, this is a good solution to turn to.
One of the best things about a loft conversion is you won’t have to go through extensive construction. This is because you don’t need to expand the home or building’s footprint. However, if you’re looking into loft conversions in Essex, you must follow certain rules and regulations. This is what we’re going to focus on in the next sections.
For Listed Buildings
Listed buildings are those that are located in the statutory lists of England. These include Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw in Wales, and Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
If your building belongs in this category, you need a listed building consent. This can get a little tricky since you will be working on an area of historical interest. In some cases, you may even be asked for additional planning permission.
To get more info about this, it’s best to go to your local city council. They will give you a list of policies and requirements for approval.
For those that don’t know if their homes are listed buildings or not, you can check the complete list of the National Heritage List for England. If so, you will also be able to see there the grade of your property.
For Homes and Buildings in Designated Area
Designated areas refer to locations involving Conservation Areas, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and likes.
For homes and buildings under this category, you won’t need a listed building consent. However, you need planning permission. This is an official statement from your local council that will allow you to make changes to your property.
Unlike getting a listed building consent, this is relatively easier to apply for. Again, you need to go to your local city authorities for their certain set of requirements.
General Rules and Regulations
If your home or building is not a listed building or on a designated area, you won’t necessarily need a listed building consent. Planning permissions, however, will depend on what will you do for your building.
Simply, you won’t need planning permission if you adhere to the following rules and regulations for your loft conversion Essex:
- Additional roof space shouldn’t exceed 40cm3 (for terraced houses) to 50cm3 (for detached and semi-detached houses)
- Extended space must not go over the existing roof slope’s plane
- The extension should not go higher than the highest roof height
- The development shouldn’t include heightened platforms or balconies
- New roofing materials should be similar to the existing structure
- Side windows must be 1.7 metres above the floor
- Dormers should be placed 200mm from the back
- There must be no hanging extensions
If your loft conversion involves even one of the said rules, you need to apply for planning permission.
Summary
To make loft conversion possible, following UK’s rules and regulations is a must. Doing so will help you make your goal possible.
The first step to knowing what rules you need to follow is to determine your building’s type. Find out if it’s a listed building, in a designated area like a conservation area or national park, or if it’s in a private property.
Note that if you don’t want to go through planning permissions, you should meet the general rules and regulations that we talked about earlier. Otherwise, you have to go to your local council for the application process.