Loft Conversion Preston

WHAT ARE THE BUILDING REGULATIONS REQUIREMENT FOR A LOFT CONVERSION IN PRESTON?

When converting a loft, Building Regulations approval is always required. A building control surveyor will come to your site to inspect your conversion at various stages and will issue a completion certificate upon final inspection. If you live in a semi-detached or terraced house, you must notify your neighbors of your planned work if it falls under the provisions of the Party Wall Act. Parts L, K, B, and P of the Building Regulations are most likely to be of concern when it comes to a loft conversion. Part L of the Building Regulations requires you to meet U-value targets for thermal efficiency when converting your loft into habitable space. Part K addresses fall, collision, and impact prevention and requires a minimum headroom of 2m for all escape routes, including the stairs (although the rules are relaxed a little for staircases providing access to a loft conversion). Parts B and P address fire and electrical safety, respectively. Complying with Building Regulations' fire safety requirements can be difficult. In two-story homes where an escape window is more than 4.5m from the ground level, a 'protected' staircase must lead down to an exterior door — which can cause problems if your staircase rises from a room rather than the ground-floor hallway, or if your ground floor is open plan.

DO I NEED THE EXPERTISE OF A PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT IN PLANNING FOR MY LOFT CONVERSION?

If you intend to make structural changes to your home, such as changing the exterior (front or back), adding a loft conversion, adding a kitchen extension or any type of single or double-storey extension, or removing load-bearing walls, you will need to seek the appropriate expertise to produce construction drawings. An architect will be qualified to complete all drawings and technical provisions for any type and size of renovation. If you have a listed property, you will need an architect because they have more experience working with listed properties and conservation areas.

An architectural technologist is a more affordable option for preparing technical drawings if you know exactly what you want. These drawings are really convenient for contractors to work from. Architectural technologists work at a fraction of the cost of architects and are commonly used for home extensions, loft conversions, and minor renovations such as wall removal. If you're only removing a wall, consult a structural engineer to ensure its removal is safe. An interior designer is less expensive than an architect or a technician and will provide good value for money in terms of making the best use of internal space. They are also a gateway to the best contractors at reasonable prices. They provide much more thought-out lighting, electrical, and plumbing specifications to ensure the best possible finish, and they have networks to draw on to deliver any technical drawings required. 

DO I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION IN PRESTON FOR A LOFT CONVERSION?

Loft conversions are an excellent addition to any home, allowing you to expand your living space without having to relocate. Unless you need to change or extend the roof space, a loft conversion usually does not require planning permission. In that case, your converted loft must meet a set of conditions and requirements in order for planning permission to be waived. Planning permission is required when: Your conversion's roof enlargement cannot be taller than your existing roof; instead, it must extend outwards rather than up. The roof extension must not overhang the original front wall, so stay within the existing roof boundaries. To visualize this, imagine a dormer window extending from your roof but remaining within the roof limits. This includes any previous roof modifications performed by a previous homeowner.