Covering Lancaster
Our coverage around Lancaster (LA1) also includes Morecambe, Fleetwood and Thornton-Cleveleys.
Homes in the North West
Terraced housing is a defining feature of many North West towns, which brings party walls and narrow access into most projects, with more space to extend on suburban semis.
What goes into a hip-to-gable loft conversion?
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.
- Extended ridge and roof structure
- Rear dormer and roof coverings to match
- Staircase, insulation, plastering and electrics
How much should I budget for a hip-to-gable loft conversion?
What hip-to-gable loft conversions typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| 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 |
What approvals does a hip-to-gable loft conversion need in England?
Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.
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.
What should I think about before starting?
- 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?
- Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
Your questions answered
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.
Will the roof tiles match?
We match the tiles as closely as possible, using reclaimed tiles where the originals are no longer made.
Who deals with the council for a project in Lancaster?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Also covering
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Morecambe
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Fleetwood
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Thornton-Cleveleys
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Ulverston
Learn more about hip-to-gable loft conversions, or see every project we cover in Lancaster.