Dormer loft conversion

[Mike]

Hi,

Do the UK building regs prevent front-facing dormer loft conversions where the height of the existing roof is not exceeded ? (I'm not in a conservation area btw).

Thanks,

Mike

[dom]

Building regs are only interested in structure, fire safety, energy efficiency etc.

It's planning control that are concerned about the appearance - and that comes down to the policies of your local planning dept.

[sm_jamieson]

Ask the planning department. It's common in lots of areas for front-facing box dormers to be pretty much banned, at least on semis or terraces. If you can design a dormer that fits in with nearby houses (e.g. on a road of 3 storey Victorian villas) it may be possible, Round here (Coventry) I haven't seen a standard box dormer built on the front of a semi or terrace for years. Side dormer on hip roof semis sometimes allowed. Front dormers more commonly allowed on bungalows, but they are usually small gabled dormers. Although you can but ask ! Don't get your hopes up. Simon.

[John Rumm]

No they don't. However you usually require planning permission for such things. It used to be the case that many loft conversions did not require planning approval at all if there were no changes to the front of the roof (and oddly that even allowed for a hipped to gable wall conversion).

However since the planning system has been "simplified", many loft conversions now require PP anyway even if not using a front dormer.

[Rick Hughes]

NO...

but planning will want an application