Before you think about design, it helps to know what's actually possible. We help homeowners across Milton Keynes and the surrounding area understand whether their loft can be converted, then turn that into a plan that works.
Before design begins, a few things decide whether a loft conversion will work: your existing head height at the ridge, the type of roof structure you have, whether your preferred dormer falls within Permitted Development, and where a new staircase can realistically go. Getting these wrong after committing to drawings is the most common way loft projects stall.
Every loft is different, so the first step is understanding what yours can support.
Rather than starting with detailed drawings, we begin with a feasibility review — establishing head height, roof structure, dormer planning route and stair position before any design work begins. Structural and Building Regulations coordination happen alongside the design, not after it, so nothing discovered late forces a redesign.
Once feasibility is established, here's exactly what happens next.
Understanding your objectives, the loft space and any known constraints before discussing the most appropriate route forward.
Typically 1–2 weeks — establishing head height, roof structure and which planning route applies before any detailed drawings begin.
Initial ideas are refined into a coordinated proposal that responds to the roof structure, planning requirements and your brief.
Permitted Development, or a full planning application normally subject to an eight-week statutory determination period from validation for non-major development.
Building Regulations drawings and structural coordination, prepared so construction can proceed with confidence.
Where required, we continue supporting the project during construction, helping resolve design queries as they arise.
With the process clear, here are the questions we're asked most often.
Not always. Many rear dormer loft conversions fall under Permitted Development, provided they stay within set limits on volume, height and roof-slope position. Front-facing dormers, and anything beyond those limits, usually need a full planning application, which local authorities normally aim to determine within eight weeks of validation for non-major development. We check which route applies to your specific loft before you commit to detailed drawings.
It depends on your existing head height at the ridge and the type of roof structure you have. Trussed roofs, common in newer homes, often need more structural work to convert than traditional cut roofs. We assess this at feasibility stage, before any design work, so you know what's realistic before committing to anything.
Yes — Building Regulations apply to every loft conversion, covering fire escape routes, floor strengthening, insulation and staircase dimensions. These requirements shape the design from the start rather than being fitted around it afterwards, which is why we coordinate them alongside the design work, not as an afterthought.
New stairs usually need space from the room directly below, and existing landings are rarely positioned for a compliant staircase. We identify the most workable stair position at feasibility stage, since it's often the detail that decides how much usable space the conversion actually adds.
Depending on the proposed work, you may need to serve notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 — common in terraced and semi-detached houses where a loft conversion affects a shared party structure. We flag this early in the process so it doesn't become a late surprise; a specialist party wall surveyor can then confirm the formal requirements.
If a project like this looks familiar, here's what it can look like once it's built.
Currently in design and quotation stage — working through the layout and structural approach before the project moves to planning or Building Regulations drawings.
See our current work
Project details will be published once the work reaches a suitable stage and client approval allows it.
Every one of these started with the same feasibility-first conversation.
A feasibility review is the fastest way to know what your loft can support, before you commit to anything else.
Feasibility reviews are focused on understanding your loft and identifying the most realistic route forward.
