What is a hip-to-gable loft conversion?
A hip-to-gable loft conversion rebuilds the sloping side (the hip) of a semi-detached or detached house roof as a vertical gable wall, extending the ridge and creating enough space for a staircase and rooms. It is usually combined with a rear dormer.
Hipped roofs are common on 1930s semis and have little usable volume until the hip is squared off. We rebuild the gable in brick or block, extend the roof structure, form the rear dormer and finish the new floor, keeping the front roof slope looking as close to the original as possible.
- Typical time on site
- 9 to 13 weeks
- Guide price
- £60,000 to £95,000
- Building regulations
- Required
What is included?
- Volume calculation and planning check
- Gable wall build in brick, block or render
- Extended ridge and roof structure
- Rear dormer and roof coverings to match
- Staircase, insulation, plastering and electrics
- En-suite and fire-protected escape route
How much does a hip-to-gable loft conversion cost?
A hip-to-gable conversion with a rear dormer on a 1930s semi usually costs around £60,000 to £80,000 including VAT.
| Hip-to-gable loft conversions | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Hip-to-gable with rear dormer | £60,000 to £80,000 |
| Double hip-to-gable (detached house) | £70,000 to £95,000 |
Unit: per conversion. Guide ranges only; your price is fixed in writing after the survey.
Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your size and specification, or see all guide prices.
Does a hip-to-gable loft conversion need planning permission?
England
In England many loft conversions are permitted development: the extra roof volume must stay within 40 m³ on a terraced house or 50 m³ on a semi or detached house, nothing can sit higher than the existing ridge, no dormer can face a road on the main elevation, and side windows must be obscure-glazed and non-opening below 1.7 m. Houses in conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes cannot use these roof-extension rights, so dormers there need planning permission (a rooflight-only conversion can still be permitted development), and flats always need permission. A lawful development certificate is worth having as proof.
Wales
Wales has its own loft and roof permitted development rules. Rear dormers within set volume limits are often allowed, but the detail differs from England's, so we confirm the current Welsh limits against your roof before the design is fixed.
Scotland
In Scotland, dormers and other roof enlargements usually need planning permission, especially on the front of the house. A building warrant is needed before work starts in every case.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, roof enlargements such as dormers often need planning permission depending on size and position. Building control approval is needed for every loft conversion.
What about building regulations?
Full building regulations approval, including the new gable wall, roof structure, staircase and fire safety.
What should I think about before starting?
- Hip-to-gable volume counts towards the permitted development allowance.
- Matching old clay tiles can be difficult; reclaimed tiles are often used.
- The new gable is usually rendered or built in matching brick.
- Scaffolding goes up on the side of the house, which may need a neighbour’s agreement.
How does the project run?
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
- Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
Questions about hip-to-gable loft conversions
How much does a hip-to-gable loft conversion cost?
Usually £60,000 to £80,000 including VAT with a rear dormer, more on a detached house with two hips.
Does a hip-to-gable need planning permission?
In England it is often permitted development if the total extra volume stays within 50 m³ for a semi or detached house.
How long does it take?
About 9 to 13 weeks on site.
Will the roof tiles match?
We match the tiles as closely as possible, using reclaimed tiles where the originals are no longer made.
Can a bungalow have a hip-to-gable conversion?
Yes, often combined with dormers to create a chalet-style first floor.
Related projects
Guides
- How much does a loft conversion cost in 2026?
- Can I convert my loft without planning permission?
- Dormer, hip-to-gable or mansard: which loft conversion?
Where do we build hip-to-gable loft conversions?
We take on hip-to-gable loft conversions across England, Wales, mainland Scotland and Northern Ireland. Choose your area:
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Bedfordshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Berkshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Bristol
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Buckinghamshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Cambridgeshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Cheshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Cornwall
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Cumbria
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Derbyshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Devon
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Dorset
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in County Durham
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in the East Riding of Yorkshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in East Sussex
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Essex
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Gloucestershire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in London
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Greater Manchester
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Hampshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Herefordshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Hertfordshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in the Isle of Wight
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Kent
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Lancashire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Leicestershire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Lincolnshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Merseyside
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Norfolk
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in North Yorkshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Northamptonshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Northumberland
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Nottinghamshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Oxfordshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Rutland
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Shropshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Somerset
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in South Yorkshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Staffordshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Suffolk
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Surrey
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Tyne and Wear
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Warwickshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in the West Midlands
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in West Sussex
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in West Yorkshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Wiltshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Worcestershire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Clwyd
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Dyfed
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Gwent
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Gwynedd and Anglesey
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Mid Glamorgan
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Powys
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in South Glamorgan
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in West Glamorgan
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Glasgow
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Edinburgh
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in the Lothians
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Lanarkshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Ayrshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Dunbartonshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in the Forth Valley
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Fife
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Perth and Kinross
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Dundee and Angus
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Moray
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in the Highlands
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Dumfries and Galloway
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in the Scottish Borders
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in County Antrim
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in County Armagh
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in County Down
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in County Fermanagh
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in County Londonderry
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in County Tyrone