How Long Does Planning Permission Take For A Loft Conversion
Why Convert Your Loft?
Converting your loft into a functional space is a smart way to renovate your home, mainly for the sake of creating more room and adding more useful space within your house. It is usually advisable to have a good understanding of what this entails, and the factors to consider before embarking on the project.
A loft conversion is an easy way to say increase the value of a house, and such converted space can be used as an extra bedroom, office, gym or any other requirement. This sort of renovation is one of the most popularly done in the UK, as occupants of homes usually need to extend the available space into something more functional.
But it is important to note that as efficient as a loft conversion seems, it requires a lot of caution and expertise to carry out. Thus, it isn’t exactly something you can carry out yourself, according to Carai Lofts (website), a contractor that carries out loft conversions in London.
The building team or consultancy you employ must be specialists in loft conversion projects. Also, you would need to get expert advice on the level of alterations that would be made, which might affect the whole building and its occupants.
In addition, such alterations on a building usually gets the attention of the government’s building regulation, and as a result, you need to know whether your conversion project is approved before you commence work.
Do you always need a planning permission for a loft conversion?
- In many cases, a loft conversion does not require getting a planning permission from the building regulators. That is, most loft conversion projects are already permitted development, depending on the location. Thus, in many cases you do not need to worry about applying and waiting for a long period of time before getting an approval to have a loft conversion.
- However, in some cases which requires altering doors, windows, stairs, the roof extensions and other vital parts of the building, you might be required to get an approved planning permission. Such alterations are technical, and could affect the layout of the building. If this isn’t done properly, you could end up having awkward and imbalanced spaces, to say the least. Since the goal is to make even more functional space, it would be counter-effective to render another room useless in achieving this.
- As a result, it is always important for house owners to know if a loft conversion requires a planning permission from the building regulation. This would ascertain the safety and feasibility of the task from the onset. If you have confirmed that the loft conversion for your house is an already permitted development, then you wouldn’t encounter any delays.
How long does it take to get your planning permission?
It could take a while before you get your planning permission. However, it is best that you stay patient to get approved, so as not to get in a clash with the regulators. In regular cases, you have to wait for a period of 8 to 12 weeks to get your permission.
This means that you must have submitted your application and paid all necessary fees to the planning department. It also requires that you provide all necessary information and requirements which would be determine if your proposal would get approved or not.
For simple loft conversions, you would have to wait for 12 weeks, at the most, after which all the processing must be complete. It might take a longer period to get your planning permission only if the conversion would be a complicated or unusual one.
In such a case, the local planning authorities might have to place a notice for neighbors and other affected parties in advance. In situations where the project would affect other nearby residents, it might take a longer period to meet the requirements of the regulators, process all the complaints that would be made, thereby delaying your approval or planning permission.
Meet the requirements for your specific type of conversion
However, it is important that you meet all the building regulation requirements, so you can be assured that your building is structurally sound when the conversion is complete. Despite the restriction and time delays you might face, getting a planning permission when required is your best bet.
Many homeowners soon find out, after commencing work that they have to stop and answer many questions from the local authorities. This might get a bit complicated, and even more expensive and time taking.
Finally, getting your loft conversion done efficiently requires that you know all these details, as well as the fees and other financial commitments you would be required to make. The length of time to get your planning permission also largely depends on the specific variety of loft conversion you want, as well as the complications it involves.
For further details you might need on the requirements about your loft conversion, click on the link provided: