What to Expect When Starting a Loft Conversion or Extension

If you’re thinking about a loft conversion or an extension, it’s natural to wonder what the process actually looks like before you commit to anything. Here’s a straightforward walkthrough of how a project like this typically unfolds, from the first conversation through to having drawings that are ready for construction.

1. An initial conversation about your project

Every project starts with understanding what you’re trying to achieve. That might be more bedrooms, a bigger kitchen, a home office, or simply more usable space without moving house. At this stage we’re listening to how you use your home now, what isn’t working, and what you’d like instead. There’s no obligation and no jargon — just a conversation about your property and your goals.

2. A measured survey of your property

Before any design work can begin properly, we need an accurate picture of what’s actually there. A measured survey records your existing property — room dimensions, structural elements, levels, and anything else that will affect the design. This is the foundation everything else is built on, and it means the drawings that follow reflect your real property, not assumptions.

3. Developing the design concept

With survey information in hand, we start developing design options. This is where your brief starts turning into layouts and sketches — how a new loft room connects to the existing staircase, how an extension relates to your garden and neighbouring properties, where light comes in, how spaces flow into one another. We’ll talk through options with you and refine the design based on your feedback before anything is finalised.

4. Planning permission — if you need it

Not every loft conversion or extension needs planning permission; many fall under permitted development rights, depending on the size, location, and nature of the work. Where planning permission is required, we prepare and submit the application, including the drawings and supporting information the council needs to assess it. Every property is different, so what’s required depends on your specific circumstances — this is something we’ll clarify with you early on, rather than assume.

5. Building regulations drawings

Whether or not planning permission is needed, building regulations approval almost always is for a loft conversion or extension. This is a separate, technical stage covering things like structural design, insulation, fire safety, and ventilation. We produce the detailed technical drawings needed for building control sign-off and for a contractor to build from accurately.

6. Construction-ready drawings, handed over

Our role runs from that first conversation through to producing construction-ready drawings — the technical information a contractor needs to price and build the work. We don’t manage the build itself or coordinate contractors on site, but the drawings you receive are detailed enough to go out to contractors for quotes and to build from with confidence.

How long does it take?

Timelines vary considerably depending on the scope of work, whether planning permission is needed, and how quickly decisions get made along the way. A straightforward loft conversion under permitted development can move faster than a larger extension requiring full planning permission. We’ll give you a realistic estimate specific to your project once we understand the scope.

Getting started

If you’re not sure whether your idea needs planning permission, what a project like yours might involve, or simply want to talk it through, get in touch. We work with clients across Leicester and have delivered projects for clients across the UK, so wherever your property is, we’re happy to have that first conversation.