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TECHNICAL GUIDANCE

Offering customised conversion solutions

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About Loft Care

Providing Bespoke Conversion Solutions

Loft Care Ltd was founded in 2022 by Director Paolo Ingrao, with over 20 years of investment banking and hedge fund experience gained between 1997 and 2018.

After leaving the City in 2018, Paolo utilised his extensive professional network to move into strategic land acquisition and planning, successfully identifying and delivering a number of development opportunities.

In 2022, Loft Care Ltd was established to provide specialist planning and design services, initially focusing on residential loft and roof conversions. With extensive planning expertise and a commitment to quality, the company quickly expanded into home remodelling, interior transformations, and wider design-and-build projects.

Today, Loft Care Design & Build prides itself on delivering high-quality, end-to-end services, guiding clients seamlessly from initial concept and planning through to turnkey completion.

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TECHNICAL GUIDANCE

LOFT CONVERSION

Loft Care can provide a complete design and planning service package, ensuring you maximize your loft space at your property, whilst working to a budget and taking into consideration the latest building regulations and strict planning guidelines from your local authority.

PROCESS

If you are considering getting a loft conversion constructed at your property, and are interested in finding out the process, let us take you through step-by-step as to what the typical loft conversion schedule looks like, so you can get an insight as to what to expect.

DESIGN & PLANNING

Depending on which tailored service you decide to use our architects and structural surveyors will attend your property to complete a full site survey for building regulation drawings that you will require to fully understand the layout and potential your property has.

CONSIDERATIONS

Your existing roof is designed to keep out the elements and is used for internal storage. Following a loft conversion, your roof will have to cope with significant loadings, for example, new RSJ supports, a new floor structure, and some form of Dormer or Hip to Gable conversion style. Roofs can generally be divided into two types.

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FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How high does my loft area need to be for a conversion?

A loft conversion requires there to be approximately at least 2.2 meters in height from the top of the floor joists to the bottom of the ridge board. If not, your property might be eligible for several different types of loft conversion. Depending on the property’s structure, we could lower your existing ceiling joists to enable sufficient height required to construct a loft conversion.

2. Do I need planning permission for my loft conversion?

Planning laws changed in 2008, meaning most loft conversions could be possible without the need for planning permission thus making the process a lot simpler for many homeowners.

This law change means that homeowners can extend their roof space by adding a dormer or hip-to-gable conversion by 50 cubic meters for a detached or semi-detached property and by 40 meters for a terraced house. This is called the permitted development allowance. However, there are several exceptions to the permitted development allowance rule, namely, flats and maisonettes will always need planning permission. If the property is located or listed within a conservation area, or if the roof height is being increased then these will require full planning permission and meet the policy design guidelines of your local council.

3. What is building control?

The building control office located within a local authority is in place to ensure any building work undertaken conforms to building regulations, this includes, design, construction methods, and approved materials.

Internal loft alterations (even non-structural ones) may affect fire safety, so prudent to contact the local authority.

4. If we are required to submit a full planning application, how long will it take for a decision?

Normally the council will advise of their decision within eight weeks.

5. What if my neighbours object?

The local authority will notify your neighbours and any other interested parties for their consideration, they usually have 21 days to respond. This will be inspected by the public online and will be considered by the council officers on the basis of planning reasons. They cannot reject your application simply because some or even many people oppose it. The local authority must always give reasons if it refuses your application or subjects it to certain conditions.

6. What is a party wall agreement, and will I need one?

A party wall is an existing wall or structure shared with an adjoining property, for example, the wall between two terrace houses. As most loft conversions may affect the structure of a party wall you will need to notify all adjoining neighbours. Typical works:

Changing the height of a party wall.
Breaking into a wall to insert a structural beam.
Underpinning a party wall where needed.

The above is covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996

7. What is a party wall agreement, and will I need one?

Changing the height of a party wall.
Breaking into a wall to insert a structural beam.
Underpinning a party wall where needed.

The above is covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996

8. How do I serve a party wall agreement?

Being neighbourly, it is best practice to inform your neighbours if you are planning to convert your loft space, pre-warning them of a pending planning application from the local authority can avoid unnecessary hick-ups. Would be a wise decision in our opinion to share your plans beforehand.
Next steps - give notice in writing to all owners of when you plan to do it, and how it will impact them. Served at least two months before the work on the party wall is due to start. Your neighbour may agree to work starting earlier but is not obliged to, they have 14 days to respond. Any agreement from other owners must be gained in writing.
If agreement on the work is not reached, an "agreed surveyor" can be appointed to draw up an "award". This award will typically set out the work to be done, how and when it will be carried out, and will include a report on the existing condition of the adjoining property. These costs are typically covered by the owner of the property converting their loft.

9. Is there disruption when constructing a loft conversion?

Throughout any building works there will always be some sort of disruption. With the process of converting a loft, most of these works (85/90%) are carried out in the loft area, therefore minimizing the risk of disorder. The only time you will potentially experience any disruption will be when the team breakthrough your existing ceiling for the new staircase to service the new loft area, this will be no longer than 2 days.

10. Health and Safety & Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)

At Loft Care, we are continuously committed to ensuring the health & safety along with the welfare of our employees, contractors, clients, and the public. We are fully aware of our legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Separately, we ensure the implementation of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) in the domestic construction sector, guaranteeing these duties are passed on to the contractor.

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CONTACT US

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Address

Church Lane
Loughton
Essex
IG10 1PF

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Phone

0800 002 9411

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Email

info@loftcare.co.uk