Loft
conversions
in Richmond, TW9
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A Richmond loft is judged from the street and sometimes from the hill: the borough discourages hip-to-gable conversions and front dormers, and the 1902 Act protects the views from Richmond Hill.
The Alberts, St Matthias and the view from the hill
The Village Planning Guidance names rear roof dormers that can be seen from the street among the changes that could harm the Alberts, the 1870s streets of tight two storey terraces with slate roofs, and St Matthias' statement notes that Houblon Road has undergone little alteration.
On Richmond Hill, where the townscape is unified by face brickwork in a limited palette of colours, roof plant and telecommunications equipment on prominent rooftops are listed as a threat.
The borough's guidance keeps the ridge at its height and dormers below it and narrower than the windows beneath, and it favours hipped or gabled dormers, or flush conservation rooflights aligned with the windows below.
Chimneys belong to the roofline: their regular spacing gives a street its rhythm, the guidance says, and if one must go it should come down below roof level with the covering made good.
Where permitted development still applies, a loft's added volume is limited to 40 cubic metres on a terraced house and 50 on others, and a side window must be obscure glazed, with any opening part 1.7 metres above the floor.
Up the hill, the St Matthias statement describes three main roads climbing the slope with cross streets between them, many short views and vistas, and the Church of St Matthias as a landmark seen from some distance, so a roof there is often seen from more than one side.
When a roof is re-covered, new tiles or slates should match the existing in colour and shape and decorative ridge tiles are kept, while the sides of a dormer are clad to match or complement the main roof.
The guidance lists retained chimney stacks, sash windows and exposed yellow stock or painted brick among the features of the Alberts, so a loft there keeps the stacks and treats the rear slope with restraint.
Richmond and Richmond Hill's guidance counts unsympathetic alterations that strip out traditional architectural features and materials among the threats to the area. As a roof is stripped for a loft we set aside sound slates, ridge tiles and chimney pots for reuse.
Outside Richmond: Muswell Hill Road, N10, where the loft of an Edwardian home in north London was converted while the house was renovated.
We check sightlines from the street, and on the slopes of the hill from the paths and open land above, before choosing between a dormer and rooflights.
Where the stair to a new loft room has to pass through an original ceiling, we survey it first and plan the opening around the existing joists.
Sources: Richmond: Richmond and Richmond Hill Village Planning Guidance SPD (June 2016); Richmond: St Matthias conservation area statement (No. 30); Richmond: House Extensions and External Alterations SPD (May 2015); Planning Portal: Loft conversion, planning permission.
Loft Conversions in Richmond: Questions
Can a Richmond loft conversion use permitted development?
Sometimes, where no Article 4 direction removes the rights, within limits on the added volume: 40 cubic metres on a terraced house and 50 on others.
Will Richmond accept a flat-roofed dormer?
Sometimes, as a compromise. Richmond's guidance favours hipped or gabled dormers, saying a flat roof may not suit the house's character, but it accepts that a small dormer with a flat roof may be needed for headroom.
Do I need to keep the chimney stacks on a Richmond loft conversion?
Where possible. The guidance says the regular spacing of chimneys contributes to the rhythm of the street, and a stack that has to go should come down below roof level with the roof repaired.
How do Richmond's protected views affect a loft conversion?
They add a second viewpoint. The Local Plan notes that views from Richmond Hill may need considering even for development a long way from it, so a dormer can matter from the hill as well as from the street.
Which conservation areas cover loft conversions in Richmond?
In the town, Richmond Green, Richmond Riverside, Richmond Hill and Central Richmond, with St Matthias and Sheen Road up the hill; each has a statement that the council uses as the basis for judging proposals.
Is a hip-to-gable loft a good option on Richmond houses?
Not usually. Richmond's guidance says converting a hipped roof into a gable is not desirable and will not be encouraged, so a rear dormer kept below the ridge, or conservation rooflights, is the likelier route.
How much does a loft conversion cost in Richmond?
A dormer and a rooflight conversion are priced differently, after a survey of the roof structure, the stair position and what the planning route allows.
Do listed buildings in Richmond need extra consent for a loft?
Yes. A listed house needs listed building consent as well as any planning permission, and Richmond's Local Plan resists the removal of original structure, layout and features that contribute to a listed house's significance.
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