Loft Conversions in Kensington, W8
Dormer, hip-to-gable and mansard loft conversions for houses in Kensington: a bedroom and bathroom under the roof, designed and built by one team.
Covered under one contract
- Structural design and calculations
- Planning or lawful development certificate
- New staircase, dormer and roof windows
- Insulation, fire safety and building control
- En-suite designed and fitted
- Waterproofing with guarantee for basements
Loft Conversions in Kensington.
A loft conversion adds a bedroom and bathroom without touching the garden, and in most of Kensington it is the most cost-effective way to gain a floor. Which type suits your house depends on the roof: Victorian and Edwardian terraces usually take a rear dormer, 1930s semis with hipped roofs need a hip-to-gable conversion to make the space usable, and in conservation areas a mansard or rooflight scheme may be the only option.
We start by measuring the roof. About 2.2 metres from the top of the joists to the ridge is needed for a comfortable room; we check this at the first visit before anything is drawn. From there our architects design the layout and the stair, our engineers design the new floor and any steelwork, and our team builds it with the house occupied throughout.
Most lofts are permitted development within the 40 or 50 cubic metre allowance, with the dormer at the rear. Flats, listed buildings and streets with Article 4 directions need a planning application, and every loft needs building regulations approval for the structure, fire escape and insulation. We manage all of it.
- Area
- Kensington, W8
- Council
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- Housing
- Stucco and red-brick Victorian terraces, garden squares, mews houses, mansion flats and large detached villas off Kensington Church Street
- Transport
- High Street Kensington, Gloucester Road
- Loft, on site
- 8 to 12 weeks
- Headroom needed
- About 2.2 m at the ridge
- Consent
- Often permitted development for lofts
Kensington: the houses and the planning rules.
Kensington is one of the most consistently protected residential districts in London: white stucco terraces and garden squares south of the High Street, red-brick Queen Anne revival houses around Kensington Court and Phillimore Gardens, and a scatter of mews behind them. Almost every street is in a conservation area and a large share of the houses are listed.
The projects we see here are deep refurbishments of houses that have been divided and reunited over the years, lateral flats in the mansion blocks, and basements under the larger houses where the borough's policy allows. Design quality is scrutinised closely, so drawings and heritage statements have to be right first time.
The Kensington, Kensington Square, De Vere, Edwardes Square and Kensington Palace conservation areas cover almost the whole district.
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
RBKC decides applications and has some of the most detailed conservation area guidance in London, with Article 4 directions on many streets removing permitted development rights.
Basements
The borough's basement policy limits new basements to a single storey under no more than half the garden, with a construction traffic management plan and an impact assessment.
Listed buildings
Many houses are Grade II listed, so internal alterations need listed building consent alongside planning permission.
Approvals for loft conversions in Kensington.
Most loft conversions are permitted development within the 40 cubic metre allowance for a terrace or 50 for other houses, with the dormer at the rear. Conservation areas, flats and front dormers need a planning application, and every loft needs building regulations approval.
RBKC decides applications and has some of the most detailed conservation area guidance in London, with Article 4 directions on many streets removing permitted development rights.
What loft conversions in Kensington includes.
- Structural design and calculations
- Planning or lawful development certificate
- New staircase, dormer and roof windows
- Insulation, fire safety and building control
- En-suite designed and fitted
- Waterproofing with guarantee for basements
From site visit to handover.
- 01
Site visit & consultation
We visit, listen and measure. Brief, budget and constraints understood before any advice is given.
- 02
Design & itemised quote
Our architects and engineers draw the scheme, and from that we provide a transparent, itemised quotation for your approval.
- 03
Planning & approvals
Planning applications, building control and party wall matters handled for you.
- 04
Build, managed weekly
Our own trades, sequenced by a site manager. Progress reported every week.
- 05
Handover & aftercare
Joint snagging walk-through, documentation, and a guarantee on our workmanship.
Loft Conversions in Kensington: your questions.
Is a loft conversion in Kensington permitted development?
Often, provided the added volume is within 40 cubic metres for a terrace or 50 for other houses and the dormer is at the rear. Flats, listed buildings and streets with Article 4 directions need an application to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
How much headroom do I need for a loft conversion?
About 2.2 metres from the top of the ceiling joists to the ridge. Victorian and Edwardian roofs usually have it; 1930s hipped roofs often need a hip-to-gable conversion to make the space usable. We measure at the first visit.
Which parts of Kensington do you cover?
All of Kensington and W8, including Kensington Church Street, Phillimore Gardens, Kensington Square, Edwardes Square, Victoria Road, Campden Hill Road, and the neighbouring districts. We are based in London and our teams work across central, north, north-west, west and south-west London.
Other services in Kensington.
House Refurbishment in Kensington
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Flat Refurbishment in Kensington
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House Extensions in Kensington
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Structural Alterations in Kensington
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Basement Conversions in Kensington
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Kitchen Renovation in Kensington
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Bathroom Renovation in Kensington
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Bespoke Joinery & Fitted Furniture in Kensington
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Architectural & Interior Design in Kensington
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Planning Permission & Building Regulations in Kensington
Read moreLoft Conversions across London.
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We will visit, listen and explain what is possible for your property and how it would be approved. No pressure, no sales pitch.