Menu

project

Do you need planning permission for a dormer loft conversion?

, , , , , ,

If you’re considering a loft conversion and want to know if you need planning permission, the answer is maybe. It depends on a few factors, such as the size and location of your property, as well as the type of conversion you’re planning. To get a better understanding of whether or not you need planning permission for a dormer loft conversion, read on. We’ll cover all the key points so you can make an informed decision about your project.

Green Roof
Roof

What is a dormer loft conversion?

A dormer loft conversion is a type of extension that projects vertically from the slope of a roof. It’s a popular choice for those wanting to create additional space in their home as it can add both floor space and headroom.

Dormer loft conversions are normally only suitable for properties with enough existing roof space. To be able to add a dormer, there must be enough height and width available on the sloping part of the roof. The size and position of dormers will be determined by the amount of space available and where the best light can be achieved.

As well as being an effective way to create additional living space, dormer loft conversions can also add value to your property. They are usually more expensive than other types of loft conversions but this cost is often offset by the extra value they add to your home.

Why you might need planning permission

You might need planning permission for your dormer loft conversion if the following applies:

-The dormer will protrude from the existing roof more than 15cm.

-The height of the dormer will be taller than 2m.

-The dormer will take up more than 40% of the existing roof space.

-You live in a conservation area or listed building.

Milton Keynes Land Use Plan
Plan

How to apply for planning permission

If you are considering a dormer loft conversion, you will need to apply for planning permission from your local authority. The process can be complex, so it is important to seek professional advice before proceeding. You can take a look at a list of projects that needs planning permission.


There are a number of things to consider when applying for planning permission, including the size and location of your proposed dormer, the impact on the surrounding properties and the visual appearance of the finished conversion. You will also need to submit detailed plans and drawings of your proposal.

The planning permission process can be time-consuming, so it is important to start early. Once you have submitted your application, the decision-making process can take up to eight weeks. If your application is successful, you will be granted a planning permit that will allow you to proceed with your conversion.

What are the benefits of a dormer loft conversion?

There are many benefits to a dormer loft conversion, including:

1. Increased living space – a dormer loft conversion will add valuable extra living space to your home, which can be used for any purpose you desire, from an extra bedroom or playroom for the kids to a home office or gym.

2. Improved property value – as well as providing you with extra living space, a dormer loft conversion can also add significant value to your property, making it a great investment for the future.

3. Enhanced natural light and ventilation – compared to a standard loft conversion, a dormer loft conversion will let in more natural light and provide better ventilation, making it a much more pleasant place to spend time in.

4. Greater headroom – due to the sloped nature of most roofs, standard loft conversions can often be quite cramped and have limited headroom. A dormer loft conversion will create more headroom thanks to the addition of vertical walls, making it feel much more spacious.

5. Better energy efficiency – because they let in more natural light and air, dormer loft conversions can also help improve the energy efficiency of your home, saving you money on heating and lighting bills in the long run.

How to choose the right company for your project

When planning a dormer loft conversion, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the right company to carry out the work. There are a number of things to consider when making this decision, including:

– The experience and expertise of the company. Make sure they have carried out similar projects before and that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to complete your project to a high standard.

– The cost of the project. Get several quotes from different companies before making a decision. Make sure you are clear on what is included in the price and that there are no hidden costs.

– The timescale for the project. Find out how long the company will need to complete the work and whether this fits in with your own timeframe.

– The terms and conditions of the contract. Make sure you understand everything in the contract before signing it, including any warranties or guarantees that are offered.

Conclusion

If you are considering a dormer loft conversion, it is important to check with your local planning department to see if you need permission. In most cases, you will not need permission for a small dormer loft conversion, but if your plans are for a larger project, it is best to get approval before starting any work. With the right planning and permissions in place, your dormer loft conversion can be a great way to add extra space and value to your home.

Stripe-Payment.png

Why we accept all Major Credit Cards, Apple Pay and Android Pay

, , , , , , 0

At Icelabz we like talking to our customers and one of the pain points that we see our customers face every day is financing their project and paying for them.

Especially at the early stage of your projects; where you are still trying to get your architect to complete their proposed drawings for planning applications and get tenders in from contractors.

So we’ve made it easier for you to pay on credit.

How we’ve done it

Stripe Payment

 

We have teamed up with Stripe so that we can provide you with the best rates without charging you transaction fees. (We don’t pass on the charges to you)

Stripe allows our customers to use their credit card which includes American Express and other major credit cards that offer cash back incentives.

This is great for our customers as this can potentially save them cost and manage their cash flow at early stages of their project.

List of ways you can pay

In addition to paying with your credit card you can also pay using:

  • Apple Pay
  • Android Pay
  • Direct Debit

This helps you transact with us faster, get things done on the go without logging into your bank account and setting up a new recipient – which can take 10-15min

Design and Build Risk I’ve found as a Quantity Surveyor

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0

Some of you may have noticed that my background is in Quantity Surveying and specialized in commercial issues and disputes.

Even though I don’t provide this service, I still have discussions with architects and friends in the industry regarding their projects.

One story ticked me off as to how a contractor was swindling a poor homeowner.

Some background on the project

The project is based in Central London, and it is for the renovation of a £5million 2 storey flat. I wasn’t given the address, but I was given a brief of the issue and had to review the proposal from the contractor.

Some high-level details:

 

  • The main architect had a good relationship with the contractor
  • My friend was working with a different interior designer for the design
  • The price came around £1.9m for the renovation
  • The procurement route was traditional as some of the works had specialist (I’ll explain this in a future post)
  • Some of the M&E design was not done yet so it was passed on to the contractor as a contractor’s design portion which they put in as a provisional sum.

Issues I found when looking at the price

  • The price was hard to understand as it was not using any standard method of measurement. That to me is a big red flag.
  • As some of the design for the Mechanical and & Electrical was not complete, you would expect some provisional sum for it. However, it was not defined. Another red flag.
  • The listed 10% of the contract value as a Provisional sum but when I totaled up the additional comments throughout their pricing sheet, it came up to 45%. All of which were not defined. Another red flag. Most of the comments were related to structural design not complete. I was a bit confused as the structural engineer already provided the drawings for all of the necessary items.

I flagged these to my mate.

Why it was a problem

 

As a homeowner, you won’t be aware what a provisional sum is, and you could expect a reasonable amount on certain projects but! not 45% of the contract value.

You can learn more about the provisional sum on this post. But in brief…

having a provisional sum in the contract means that

  1. It’s not part of the contract to be delivered by the contractor, and you need to formerly instruct them
  2. the price will definitely change because the provisional sum has not been defined. Even the NEC contract
  3. As the client, you are taking the risk of the provisional sum activity
  4. You will need to pay more if the provisional sum is instructed as it will delay the program of works. This goes back to point 1. As the item of work is not part of your contract.

Need more information about provisional sum? Read this

… or still confused?

think of provisional sum as an item on a quote that is just a really rough estimate as the person who gave you the quote doesn’t know how much it will cost because he doesn’t enough information. So he took an educated (not really) guess of how much it costs.

Problem is that you’ll be taking a lot of risk on the item he couldn’t quote properly.

A good way to avoid this is to get

  • a complete design of the property
  • a Quantity Surveyor to create a bill of quantity for you
  • to instruct the contractor to price it against a standard method of measurement such as the NRM 2 (New Rules of Measurement 2). This can potentially help consultants later in your project understand what has been priced exactly.
  • or get the contractor to go on a design and build contract where they take the risk of the incomplete design.