Covering Swanage
Alongside Swanage, we also cover Poole, Bournemouth (8 miles to the north-east) and Christchurch.
Homes in the South West
Homes in the South West range from coastal and rural properties in stone and slate to city terraces and modern estates, so extensions are designed to match the local materials.
What do you get with 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.
- Volume calculation and planning check
- Gable wall build in brick, block or render
- Extended ridge and roof structure
What will a hip-to-gable loft conversion cost?
Use these ranges to budget for hip-to-gable loft conversions; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.
| 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 Swanage homeowners check first?
- 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.
What happens after I enquire?
- 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.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
What people ask before starting
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.
Who deals with the council for a project in Swanage?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Other towns nearby
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Poole
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Bournemouth
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Christchurch
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions in Wimborne Minster
Learn more about hip-to-gable loft conversions, or see every project we cover in Swanage.