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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      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 407 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sarah-Jane Westlake 
 28 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Eddie, our main contractor, and his labourer Damian were an absolute joy to have on-site. Their professionalism, manners, and attention to detail were exceptional. Eddie’s workmanship is top-tier, and the speed and efficiency with which he executed the project were incredibly impressive. We absolutely love our new loft space, and the sheer quality of the construction delivered by Eddie and his brilliant on-site team completely earned this top rating.
If we were judging solely on The Loft Room side, this would have been closer to a 4-star review. Communication with the head office was sometimes a little haphazard, and there were some unexpected plumbing extras from early bathroom decisions that could have been made clearer by sharing an indicative plumbing "extras" cost upfront. We also received some inaccurate guidance from The Loft Room on paint quantities for the new bedroom and en-suite, which left us with far too much paint that couldn't be returned and the "free" decoration incentive was disappointing due to a poor finish and surly decorators.
Ultimately, though, a build is only as good as the person executing it. Eddie’s fantastic management, swift pace, and flawless execution completely outshone other frustrations. We couldn't be happier with the final result.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Sam Kemp 
 21 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dragos and his team did a great job for us. They provided a complete end to end service from design, architecture and planning permission, full loft construction and decorating.
Early on in the project, with the support of Dragos, we decided to make a fundamental change to the design. They took this in their stride with no material change to the cost.
The team were considerate, skilled, polite and reliable throughout the project.
I would thoroughly recommend The Loft Room to anyone considering a loft extension or major alteration.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Iain Russell 
 19 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From the moment we spoke to Maggie, we felt The Loft Room was the right company for us. The whole admin team (Maggie, Melissa, Helen and Ciara) are warm and friendly, and super efficient.

Dave and Ashley (and Charlie) have done a fantastic job converting our loft. We have wholeheartedly trusted Dave’s expertise with him having completed 42 lofts previously. We are absolutely delighted with the results so far.  The tradespeople that have been over have been excellent: Mark and Kasper - the roofers, Stuart - electrician, Justin - plasterer, Dave - painter etc.

We did get some lower quotes from other companies, but we think there’s a strong case of ‘you get what you pay for’ with The Loft Room. The whole process was surprisingly smooth and unobtrusive - we just hadn’t expected that from a loft conversion. We would definitely recommend The Loft Company.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Richard Jones 
 19 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really happy with the finished loft conversion! The team was very friendly, professional, and respectful of our home throughout the project. While it took a little longer than initially expected, we put it down to the extreme heat of the summer we just had. The quality of the final build makes it well worth it—would recommend!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Henry 
 6 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We recently had a rear dormer completed by The Loft Room, which also involved lowering the ceilings throughout the first floor.

The efficiency and quality of the work carried out are the main reasons we’ve given five stars. We felt the administrative and communications side of the process could have been better, but ultimately the most important thing for us was the quality of the build, and in that respect we were extremely happy.

The team on site were excellent and always treated the house as our home rather than simply a building site. They were respectful, tidy and a pleasure to have around throughout the project.

Dragos has been a joy to work with and brought a huge amount of calm, experience and knowledge to the project. Lulian, on site, was the ultimate professional. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and the quality of his workmanship was excellent.

Overall, we’re really pleased with the end result and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The Loft Room based on the quality of the work and the team we had on site.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Ruth Gibbons O'Brien 
 2 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We are so happy with our new loft space and have been really impressed with The Loft Room from start to finish.

Communication throughout the project has been excellent. Marius and his team worked incredibly hard to meet deadlines while taking great care and pride in their work. Helen in the office, along with Marius, were always on hand to keep us updated on progress and talk us through the different choices and options available.

It was also really helpful having a clear contract in place detailing exactly what was included in the agreed costs. This made budgeting much easier and meant there were no unexpected or surprise costs along the way.

We can’t wait for the final touches to be completed so we can start enjoying our family’s new space. Thank you to the whole team for all your hard work — we’re really happy with the result!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Alex Moon 
 28 September 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The loft room team were great. John was very respectful, and kept us informed on progress. Going the extra mile to make our new space amazing. They really managed to maximise the floor space to create a great sized master bed and en-suite.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Calum Millar 
 26 September 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Recently had a dormer loft conversion completed by Ash and Alfie of The Loftroom.

From design all the way through to finishing the construction the team have been great. Quality of the work is outstanding, kept informed and updated all throughout the build, and always consulted about the specifics.

Highly recommend.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Chris Talbot 
 25 September 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We are delighted with our new loft conversion by The Loft Room. The whole process went incredibly smoothly, from the planning stage all the way through to decorating.

A huge thank you to Vio, who led the team on our project. Vio and the team’s hard work and dedication has transformed our house. Vio kept everything running on track, maintained a high standard of work, and was always a pleasure to deal with. He and his team treated our home with respect and made sure the details were done right. And also, a special mention to all in the office whose excellent communication kept us in the loop throughout.

We would heartily recommend The Loft Room to anyone looking to do a loft conversion. Thanks guys!

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