What is the process of getting planning permission for a loft conversion?

As we approach the end of 2022, you might be thinking about a new home in 2023, or how you can make improvements to your current home in the new year. Whilst moving homes may well provide you with the extra space you need, you may want to consider how you can expand your existing home with a loft conversion.

On average, a loft conversion can increase the value of your home by up to 20%, whereas a home move comes with the associated moving costs and, in the current property market, may not be the most cost-effective way of increasing your living space.

Whilst most loft conversions don’t require planning permission, there are some exceptions to this which you may have to consider if you are planning on converting your loft in 2023.

When is planning permission required for a loft conversion?

If the following applies to your loft conversion, you will usually require planning permission.

The new roofing adds more than 40m³ of space for terraced houses, or 50m³ on detached and semi-detached houses. It’s worth noting that any previous roof extensions that have been made will count towards this allowance.
The extension is built higher than the highest part of the existing roof.
The extended space goes beyond the plane of the existing roof slope facing the highway.
New roofing materials aren’t either an exact match or very close to the original.
There are raised platforms, balconies, terraces etc.
Dormers or any other extensions (except hip-to-gables) are set back over 200mm from the original eaves.
You have extensions that overhang the outer face of the original wall of the house.

There may be further reasons that require you to obtain planning permission, so we always advise you check your permitted development rights before planning any works.

Additional to the above, If you live in a listed building you will require Listed Building Consent and those living in a designated area, such as Conservation Area, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Park will usually need to apply for planning permission.

A lot of loft conversions will fall under permitted development rights, meaning you don’t require planning permission. That said, whether you require planning permission or not, you will always require building regulations approval which is a legal requirement. Without approval, your local council may enforce you to make changes to the build and you may also be fined.

Step by Step Guide to obtaining planning permission

Step 1 – Understand If Planning Permission Is Required

Understanding if your loft conversion require planning permission is the first place to start as it could save you making an application altogether if your plans fall under permitted planning.

Planning permission is put in place to stop disruptive or inappropriate development in certain areas. Depending on the type of loft conversion you’re looking for, you may or may not need to follow the additional steps and start the planning permission application process. Speaking with a loft conversion specialist will usually help clear this up fairly quickly.

Step 2 – Contact Your Local Authority’s Planning Department

If your loft conversion is going to require planning permission, it’s advised that you speak with your local authority’s planning department first. This will help understand if your application will be accepted in the first place, potentially saving you time and money. Your local authority’s planning department will also be able to advise on changes you could make to give your application the best chance of being approved.

Step 3 – Submit Your Application With Your Council

Once you’ve spoken to your local council’s planning department and made any required changes to your plans to improve the approval likelihood, the next step is to submit your application for planning permission.

Your application needs be filled in with your local planning authority. The majority of applications for planning and building control are completed online using the Planning Portal.

You will be required to supply supporting information for your building/development project, when submitting your planning application including the following:

The site plan and location.
Evidence of ownership of the property, usually your ownership certificate.
An agricultural holdings certificate if applicable.
The application fee.

Once the appropriate fee has been paid and your application has been submitted, applicants will receive a receipt via email. Fees for applications will vary depending on the details of the application. To get a good idea on what fee you could expect, you can use the Planning Portal fee calculator.

Step 4 – Application Assessment

Once your application has been submitted, the relevant local planning authority will assess your application. The outcome of your application is based on a number of factors including but not limited to, the following:

Loss of privacy
Noise levels
The impact of listed buildings
The appearance and materials included in the design
Government policy
Nature conservation
Highway safety
Previous planning decisions

In England and Wales, residents neighbouring the property may be contacted regarding an application’s plans for development. Objections to plans will only be considered when in-line with material considerations such as those listed above.

Step 5 – The Decision

After considering and assessing the application, a decision will be made. If approved, developments detailed in the application can proceed. If an application is rejected, it’s vital that works are not carried out to avoid any enforcements as previously mentioned.

If your application for planning permission is rejected, you reserve the right to appeal if you feel the decision is incorrect. The appeal process can be both costly and lengthy, so we’d advise speaking to a professional regarding the matter before deciding on whether to appeal or not.

If you’re thinking about a loft conversion in 2023 and want help understanding whether you’ll require planning permission or not, feel free to get in touch for a no obligation chat.

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Ben Chadwick

22 August 2026

We have just had our loft completed by the loft room. They were really easy to work with, took care of all the paperwork. They were great at communicating all the stages and their response time was excellent. Adrian was our builder and he was fantastic. Super thorough, reliable, fast, tidy and often gave us suggestions when we were unsure. The whole project was finished in about 6weeks! We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The Loft Room to anyone. Many thanks!

Ken O'Neill

19 August 2026

We are so happy we decided to go ahead with The Loft Room. Everyone we met from our initial consultation with Paul to Lulian and his team and Helen and Melissa in the office have been great. We were especially impressed with the hard work of Lulian and his team even through the heatwave. They were friendly and professional and always ready to answer any questions we had. Thanks to Lulian for suggesting bigger Velux windows - they are amazing! All the trades involved were great - we will definitely use them again in the future. The work was completed on time and we are really happy with it. We would certainly recommend The Loft Room.

jasmine zohdy

17 August 2026

We used the loft room for our loft extension and are very pleased with the results. We were lucky enough to have Adrian and Andre build the dormer, the whole experience was excellent from start to finish. The work was completed incredibly quickly, yet the quality remained consistently high throughout. Adrian brought great ideas to the project that genuinely improved the final design, and he kept everything neat and tidy every single day. All the trades they works with — electrician, roofer, plumber and more — were equally reliable and skilled. There were no delays at any stage; each team arrived exactly when needed and kept the project moving smoothly. The administration side Helen and Mellisa was also superb, with clear updates and communication about progress and next steps. A very professional service all round.

Amy Dobson

6 August 2026

Off the recommendation of friends we engaged the Loftroom to refresh and extend our existing loft conversion, adding new insulation, skylights, a new shower room and additional bedroom. We have never done major work to a property before so benefited greatly from loft room supporting us start to finish with planning, designs and all the various trades needed. Our team lead Marius was excellent from start to finish. Him and his team were incredibly hard working, working quickly and to a very high standard. We were really impressed especially given they worked through multiple heat waves !!Their advise and guidance during the build was invaluable (see skylight in shower room!). We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Marius and the wider loft room team (who were very supportive every step of the way) to anyone looking to complete a loft conversion or improve an existing one.

Andrea Guerra

4 August 2026

We recently completed a loft conversion with The Loft Room, adding two generous rooms, a bathroom and a proper landing, and we are delighted with the result. The new floor feels like a natural part of the house rather than an addition, and the quality of the finished space is excellent. A special mention must go to Dave, who managed the project with patience, kindness and a genuine commitment to getting things right. Building work inevitably brings challenges and changes along the way, but Dave was consistently approachable, practical and willing to find solutions. He took real pride in the work and cared about the final outcome, which made a significant difference to us. The whole team worked incredibly hard in our home, and we are very grateful for what they created. It was a major project for our family, and the additional space has genuinely transformed how we can use and enjoy the house. We would happily recommend The Loft Room and especially Dave.

Brooke Owusu-Bempah

27 July 2026

Getting a loft conversion done is a big decision. We were honestly quite nervous about it, especially given the investment involved and the number of horror stories you hear about building projects going wrong. Thankfully, our experience with The Loft Room was the complete opposite. From day one, the whole process was handled brilliantly. Everyone we dealt with, from the office team through to the various tradespeople who worked on our home, was professional, friendly and incredibly well organised. What impressed us most was that our loft was completed in just 9 weeks, and the quality of the workmanship never felt rushed. A special mention has to go to Ashley C. He wasn't just the team leader overseeing the project. He was the lead carpenter and the driving force behind the entire build, coordinating all of the contractors, managing the day-to-day work, and making sure everything stayed on track. More than that, he felt like a genuine partner in the project. He understood that we had a budget to work within, took the time to listen, offered great ideas to maximise the space, and always made us feel completely comfortable and informed. His communication was exceptional throughout. No question was ever too small, no concern was ever brushed aside, and he was always happy to walk us through things, sometimes more than once when we needed reassurance. Having someone like Ashley on site every day made what could have been a stressful experience feel surprisingly straightforward and enjoyable. Every contractor who came into our home was polite, respectful and highly skilled. There wasn't a single issue throughout the build, and it was obvious that everyone took pride in their work. In fact, by the end of the project, it was genuinely a little sad to see the team finish. Ashley had become such a reassuring and professional daily presence that we'll genuinely miss seeing him and the crew around. We're now at the final decorating stage and can't wait to move into and enjoy our beautiful new space. We've been talking about our experience to anyone who'll listen, recommending The Loft Room to neighbours and friends, and proudly showing people the transformation. If you're considering a loft conversion, we honestly couldn't recommend The Loft Room highly enough. They've completely exceeded our expectations in every way. 10/10 for quality, professionalism, communication and customer service. And if you're lucky enough to have Ashley C. leading your build, you'll be in extremely safe hands. He played a huge part in making our project such a success.

Harry G

20 July 2026

We had our loft conversion completed by The Loftroom Teddington at the start of the year, and we're absolutely delighted with the finished result. The extra space has made such a difference to our home, and the quality of the work has been excellent. A big thank you to Ash, who did a fantastic job and was always friendly, hardworking, and happy to answer any questions we had each morning (and throughout the day!). We'd also like to thank Paul, who was great from our very first interaction, as well as Melissa and Helen in the office, who kept everything running smoothly, and Rich, who regularly popped in during the build to check on progress. As with any building project, there were a few small niggles, but these were dealt with quickly, professionally, and efficiently. It was reassuring to know that the team stood by their work and were committed to making sure everything was right. Overall, we've had a really positive experience from start to finish and wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Loftroom Teddington to anyone considering a loft conversion. Thank you to the whole team!

nick davis

17 July 2026

Marius and his team were punctual, quick and clean and did a good job on our loft extention. Would recommend them.

A Z

15 July 2026

Many thanks to Paul, Melissa, Helen, Maggie and our project manager Mihai! The whole team is great, and the tradespeople they used are highly professional and do excellent work. Thank you for delivering my project right on schedule and with fantastic results.

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