The Government is proposing an ‘impact test’ for certain home improvements which is open to interpretation and could effectively stop rather than encourage home renovations such as loft conversions. The Planning White Paper states that ‘developments considered to have more than a low impact on the wider neighbourhood and/or street scene would require specific planning permission from the local planning authority’. This will in practice wipe out loft conversions warns the FMB.

Brian Berry FMB External Affairs Director said: "It is quite devious how the Planning White Paper has emphasised the removal of planning permission for home renovations whilst at the same time hiding the effective removal of permitted development rights for loft conversions. By applying the impact test to front or side roof extensions and to rear roof extensions that are less than one metre from eaves, ridges, verges or party walls, the proposal effectively wipes out all loft conversions in built up urban areas.

“Soaring stamp duty and other house-buying costs have driven the recent trend for owners to improve rather than move, and loft conversions are one of the most popular methods of gaining extra living space without increasing the footprint of a building. Loft conversions provide great benefits obviously to the owners but also to the wider community. For example, they are a brown field development; improve the quality of the housing stock; increase insulation levels, thereby reducing carbon emissions; increase fire safety; and help maintain sustainable communities by encouraging people to say put.”

FMB is forming a loft action group to lobby the Government before the consultation deadline on August 17

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Susie Hughes
The Editor © Hardhatter 200