Loft Conversions
Your Loft Conversion project should have you excited, but you need it to be stress-free so you can enjoy the process. Your Loft Conversion project doesn’t have to be complicated, we want you to see how simple and logical the steps are.
Perhaps, more importantly, we can help you understand how much it might cost BEFORE you start investing in expensive design drawings.
Broadly speaking most building projects follow the same process, but loft conversions can be challenging in that you are working with the structure that is already there, but it must meet 2023 building regulations.
We want to give you, the homeowner, the experience that you are looking for when designing your Loft Conversion, so we have outlined for you the specific steps that we follow regardless of the size of a project.
The timescale will probably be important to you; For example, how long does it take to get planning permission and a building warrant for my Loft Conversion?
Again, there are no set times for this, a lot will depend on the complexity of the Loft Conversion and how fast you would like to go, but typically for a Loft Conversion a minimum of 6-8 months is required to obtain both planning permission (if required) and a building warrant.
Loft Conversion Progress at a Glance
Please read on if you would like to further explain these specific steps.
1) Feasibility Study -Needs & Options Review. The MOST IMPORTANT phase
This is a Fact-finding discussion between you (the client) & John Webster Architecture to establish project constraints, your Budget, and when you expect to start & finish the project.
Some clients can provide us with a brief and are very clear about what they want, while others are not so sure, either way, don’t worry, this stage will help you get the clarity you need to move forward.
We spend a little more time on the research than most other firms that rush their clients into the design phase.
The first step you will need to complete is the Needs and Options review*.
We designed this process a few years ago because there is a huge issue in the construction industry of people starting design and construction before they have fully done their research and homework.
People are trying to run before they have the walk mastered.
The consequence of inadequate upfront research of needs and options is like building a house on bad foundations. The foundations are the most important part of the whole house because everything is built on top. It’s very expensive to change the foundations once you have started to build on top of them. But very easy to change them if they are simply lines on a plan!
At the end of this stage, we produce a report that will clearly outline your objectives (Needs) and determine what your options are. (in some situations, there may be a variety of options open to you)
This process is designed to remove assumptions and reduce the risk to you.
*Where we offer a fixed fee when the works are minor in nature and no initial site visit is required then no Need & Options Review is required.
2) Design & Planning Application Submission
The design & planning stage is based on the outcome of the feasibility study.
The clarity that the feasibility stage gives will assist in being able to develop a design that you love & more importantly fit your budget!
We will draw up the initial design and, with your input (the client), will continue to tweak the design until you are 100% happy. (after all, it’s your house)
All our projects are done in 3D which further reduces your risk as you can see what you will get before you are committed to building it.
No more meaningless line drawings that are impossible to understand!
The drawings are then developed to a standard where a Planning application can be made*.
The planning officer may request supplementary information to support the planning application such as drainage arrangements Etc.
A Planning Fee is paid directly by you to the Local Authority (Currently £202)
Once the Planning Submission has been made it will be validated by the Local Authority planning department and generally takes around 8 weeks for a decision to be made as to whether Planning permission will be granted or not.
(if the initial planning application is unsuccessful a modified design can be submitted that is more likely to get planning approval OR the decision can be appealed)
Once planning has been granted the next stage is to apply for a Building Warrant.
*Often Loft Conversions do not require Planning Permission, this is entirely dependant on the scope of the project
3) Building Warrant
Every House extension project that is carried out in Scotland must comply with Building Standards.
“Scottish Ministers are responsible for creating Building Regulations and preparing technical guidance to ensure buildings are safe, efficient and sustainable for all. … This gives helpful guidance to those who intend to carry out building work and where to seek help”.
We will ensure that your House Extension project meets the standards required, your design drawings will be further developed into technical drawings that demonstrate compliance with these building regulations.
Technical guidance is provided by the Technical handbooks, below are the main areas they cover.
- Structure
- Fire
- Environment
- Safety
- Noise
- Energy
- Sustainability
Once the drawings are completed a building warrant application is submitted to the local authority building standards department.
A Building Warrant fee is paid directly by you to the Building Standards department of the local authority (Building Warrant fee is related to the cost of the works)
For further reading please Refer to How Much Does a Building Warrant Cost?
When the Building Warrant has been granted the documents will be issued along with the Construction notification plan.
At this point, you are legally free to begin construction.
*John Webster Architecture is not a firm of Architects, we are proud to be a firm of Architectural Technologists that specialize in residential construction projects.
