Hip to Gable Loft Conversions London

When you’re looking for more space without moving house, a home extension can often be the answer. However, when you also want to retain maximum outside space, the better solution is often a loft conversion. 

In this article, we’ll explore a specific type of alteration known as a hip to gable loft conversion in London. Like all loft conversions, this comes with the benefit of increasing your internal space while leaving the footprint of the property unchanged.

Hip to gable loft conversions in London are usually straightforward, and the end result will be in keeping with the overall appearance of the house.

The hip to gable conversion in London

Hipped roofs were popular in the housing booms of the 1930s and 1950s – the design means that walls are the same height all the way round, which made for easy construction in large housebuilding schemes. 

A hip to gable loft conversion is when a hipped roof is converted to a roof with a gable end. 

Usually this is on detached or semi-detached properties, although it can also be possible on the rear aspect of some L-shaped terraced houses.

Often, a hip to gable loft conversion in London will include a dormer extension, usually at the rear. The dormer further increases available headroom and thus usable floor space.

The benefits of a hip to gable conversion

More head space

The main advantage of a hip to gable loft conversion is that it extends the useable headroom for the entire length of the roof on the side on the loft conversion. 

In turn, this means more useable floor space, adding considerably to the utility and comfort of your own home. 

Usually, access to your loft conversion can be by extending the stairs in their existing line. Typically, this means the stairs will enter the newly enlarged loft space at one side – preserving maximum additional floor area.

Easier addition of dormer windows.

For natural light, some loft conversions use Velux windows or similar, which fit flush to the slope of the roof. However, a popular alternative is dormer windows, and the feasibility of these can be considered when initial plans are drawn up.

Planning Permission or other local regulations will be relevant here. Very often the dormer will be at the rear of the property, so the appearance of your home from the front won’t be significantly different and this may well be a condition of any permissions granted.

A hip to gable loft conversion adds value as well as space and utility.

Whatever your loft conversion will accommodate – home office , master bedroom suite or occasional spare bedroom – the extra floor space will add value financially as well as practically. 

The additional value will vary depending on your location. However, in the London area the increased sale value is likely to exceed the cost of the conversion work. 

In the meantime, the extra space in your home will add considerably to the way you can enjoy your home – and saves the upheaval of moving house!

Does a hip to gable loft conversion need planning permission?

Planning Permission or Permitted Development?

Most hip to gable loft conversions do come within Permitted Development Rights, provided some fixed criteria are met. However, it is important to avoid assumptions; don’t begin work until you know for sure!

The main criteria are 

• The height of the original roof line does not change, including any dormer windows.
• Your neighbours should not be affected by being overlooked from your new windows (thus any side windows may need to be glazed with frosted glass) or overshadowed by the altered shape and size of your home.
• You don’t include balconies – although Juliet balconies are permitted.
• The size of the loft conversion must be no more than 40 cubic metres for a semi-detached house and no more  than 50 cubic metres for a detached house. Sometimes, dormer windows can add significantly to overall volume, so this is something to check very carefully. 

Other factors to consider include

• In almost all cases, the hip to gable loft conversion must be in keeping with the style of the property – which is why dormer windows are usually at the rear.
• Whether or not you live in a listed building or conservation area, both of which will come with additional restrictions.
• Bats are a protected species – if they are nesting in your loft, you need a special license to disturb their home.
• You’ll need planning permission if your home is a flat or maisonette, even if you own the freehold.

Careful preparation counts

Is a hip to gable loft conversion feasible?

Key to the success of any project is a combination of overall vision and attention to detail. This is where we excel.

Your project should start with an initial meeting at your property, followed by a feasibility study. Your chosen architectural designers should set out the practical implications of undertaking the work – starting with the basic question as to whether a loft conversion is possible as you envisage it.

Initial drawings should come with advice as to whether Planning Permission is required, or that the work will be within Permitted Development rights. You may want to explore options to keep the work withing Permitted Development Rights.

Easy visualisation 

The feasibility study should include visuals to help you see how the house and loft may look when complete, inside and out. At this stage, you can adjust details to fine tune design, along with making decisions about things such as heating, plumbing and lighting.

Your architectural designers and Planning specialists should open about the reasons for their recommendations, as one of your questions will be about how much does a hip to gable loft conversion cost.

Many professionals use Building Information Modelling software to help in the design process. This means you’ll have plans, 3D graphics, detailed design features, product specifications, and technical construction details drawn up in parallel. These not only provide a great picture of the completed project; they will also become part of any Planning Application that’s required, as well as being blueprints once work is under way.

Our passion is for your happiness

Divi Design are Architectural Designers and Planning Specialists. We pride ourselves on simple, elegant solutions to complex problems and on doing everything – no matter how straightforward – really well. 

Whatever the Planning requirements, our experience and expertise mean we are well qualified to secure the right permissions. We know nearly all London boroughs very well, and understand how they apply their Planning policies. We have a 98% success rate in the Planning Applications we make on behalf of our clients. 

We’d love to be part of helping you turn your home into the dream property you have always imagined.

We do hip to gable loft conversion all over London. Areas include (but are not limited to): Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Enfield, Greenwich, Hammersmith & Fulham, Havering, Romford, Thurrock, Twickenham, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Walthamstow, Richmond, Bromley, High Wycombe, Harrow, and Ealing.