Although it can seem a challenge with the mess and noise from builders, a loft conversion is a great way to make use of space in your attic and turn it into a living or working space. The long term benefits once complete make a loft extension well worth the initial upheaval.
We have experienced architects and designers working from our Clapham studio and have completed numerous residential projects for extensions, home offices, and kitchens in South West London.
Whether you’re needing more space for family or an investor needing to maximise value from properties, our extensive experience with loft conversions in London has led to us becoming loft conversion specialists of choice in London, Surrey, and the Home Counties.
Can you convert your loft or attic space?
A loft conversion south London can often be carried out without having to get full planning permission. Instead, you may just need a Certificate of Lawfulness from the Council. The following guidelines are what to consider if you want to carry out your loft conversion under Permitted Development.
Note that if you live in a conservation area, a group of flats, or on designated land, you may in fact need full planning permission despite the points outlined here.
The Planning Portals Guide to Permitted Development lays out that your loft conversion must follow the guidelines on the right to be under permitted development:
- Any additional roof space must not exceed 40 cubic meters for terraced houses and 50 cubic meters for detached and semi-detached houses
- If your property faces a highway, your loft extension cannot protrude the plane of the existing roof slope.
- You need to use similar materials to your existing house.
- No part of the extension can be higher than the highest part of the existing roof.
- You cannot add a balcony under permitted development
- For the sake of your neighbours privacy, any side facing windows need to be obscure glass. They also can’t be openable unless higher than eye level (specifically 1.7m above the floor height).
- Roof extensions cannot over hang the existing roof. They are to be set back at least 20cm from original eaves. (Unless of course its a hip-to-gable extension – More on that later!)
Three Popular Types of Loft Conversion
Dormer Loft Conversions
Dormer loft conversions are popular, our clients love them! Look at or our Earlsfield project for what a dormer loft conversion can bring to your home. To summarise, it is building a square extension popping out of your existing roof shape. Simple to construct and they look great! Dormers are a great for bungalow loft conversions.
Rooflight Conversions
Rooflight conversions: The easiest option of them all… Simply adding roof lights and using your existing roof shell to create an attic/loft style room! You’ll need a tall loft to make this space useable though. When the head height hits 1500mm, add a small wall and the left over space in the eaves becomes great storage.
Mansard Roof Extension
Think Paris! A mansard roof is characterized by its steep sides and its double pitch. Much like those you find all around central Paris. A mansard loft conversion will give you a lot of extra space but It will often be the most expensive form of loft conversion when compared with a traditional flat roof dormer.
Some of our projects in South West London
Our Unique 10-Step Design Process
1 – A Simple, 3 Step Online Brief, we will then contact you to discuss everything about the loft conversion south London in more detail
2 – A Desktop Research Study, and a Meeting To Discuss
3 – A Choice of Designs – You will usually provide 3 options to choose from
4 – Managing the Planning Application – We will act as an agent to help you through the process and liaise with the planning officers.
5 – Working with the Right People – We have a good relationship with structural engineers, party wall surveyors, and mechanical and electrical engineers.
6 – Maintaining standards and working with building control, again, acting as an agent through the approval process of your plans
7 – Looking after the final touches – The specification of works will detail all the internal finishes, wall coverings, floor coverings, bespoke joinery, and electrical and heating layouts amongst other finishing touches.
8 – Help you find the right builder – We have a good relationship with many builders and will create a tender package for you. We recommend sending the package to 3 or 4 contractors to find you a competitive and comprehensive price.
9 – We also offer a site monitoring service which relieves the pressure off you to keep an eye on your builders. We usually monitor once a week (unless agreed otherwise).
10 – Enjoy your new loft conversion!
Get Started by Creating your Online Brief
This is a quick 3 Step process. What you would like to do with your home?
Start Here
Aura Homes - Architectural Design
7 Prescott Place, London
-
Overall great design and exceptional value for money. As a first time consumer of architectural services on what was a large project I can not emphasise enough the value add that we got from Ben, Sophie and the wider Aura team. The effort … More and detail put into the design and specification of works along with significant assistance in project management was commendable. As the project evolved it was crystal clear that we saved a significant amount of time and money as a result of having a comprehensive package and most importantly we got what we wanted on budget. Expectations were exceeded in terms of meeting deadlines. Accommodating design changes and assistance with the planning process was also first rate. I would highly recommend the team and look forward to working with them on the next project.
-
Couldn't recommend Ben and his team more. We were in a really tricky position with our building project and Ben navigated us safely out of it. Superb guidance, great technical knowledge and what I really valued the most was the communication. … More Always got back to me promptly which makes a real difference when stress levels are high. Thanks Aura!
-
Aura Homes is a highly professional firm of architects that always have the clients best interests at hart. The quality of their plans and drawings is superb and their turn-around when making amendments well within expected timelines. … More For bespoke projects, their research and recommendations (both in terms of quality and costs) is superb.
Making Everything Transparent
We often hear from clients that speaking to architects is a daunting and confusing experience, as they often use industry terminology, making the process unnecessarily complicated and hard to grasp.
Ben Richards, when he set up the company back in 2014, set out to solve this issue for homeowners wanting a friendly residential architects; please take a minute to watch him on the video to the left.
That is why we share our Fees on our website, create Blogs and FAQ articles to share industry insights, and have created the 10 Step AURA Process which is explained via Youtube or can be downloaded for free to read anytime.
Adding value to your house
A loft conversion is generally reckoned to be one of the best ways to add value to your property. Whilst there is no formula to calculate the added value, a survey by Nationwide Building Society concluded that a loft conversion could add as much as 21% to your home value.
An important benefit for houses in South West London, where land is so valuable, a loft conversion adds to the area of living space without reducing the garden space. By adding an extra bedroom, and often a bathroom too, you can then place your home among a different category of properties with a significantly higher value.
A loft staircase adds much more value to a house than a loft ladder. And find out what is needed to meet building regulations – this is very important in preserving both the resale value of your home and the safety of the finished loft extension.
–
TIP: Don’t forget the VAT aspect and professional and statutory fees (see How Much Will My House Extension Cost)
Get us around for a Design Consultation and we’ll discuss your budget and start planning what we can do with your loft extension.