Chatham · Medway Council
Dormer loft conversions in Chatham
Chatham is terrace country, and terraces are where dormers earn their keep. A narrow house with no room to extend outwards has one obvious direction left, and the rear box dormer is the standard, well proven way of taking it.
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The roofs we work on in Chatham
The Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Luton Road and Chatham Hill have long rear slopes and, in many cases, an original back addition. That combination is what makes an L shaped dormer possible, giving a bedroom over the main roof and a bathroom over the outrigger. Walderslade and the post war stock further out have shallower roofs where head height needs checking before any promises are made.
Planning permission in Chatham
Medway Council is the planning authority. The terraced volume allowance under permitted development is smaller than for semis and detached homes, which is the single most important constraint on Chatham lofts, and the Historic Dockyard conservation area covers a separate part of the borough. Front facing dormers on a highway elevation are not permitted development.
Access, scaffolding and getting the work done
Terraced streets with heavy on street parking mean scaffold access, skip permits and neighbour notification all need arranging before the start date rather than on the morning. On terraces the steels usually bear on both party walls, so party wall notices are the norm here rather than the exception.
The dormer that usually suits a Chatham house
The common Chatham project is an L shaped dormer where the house has a back addition, or a full width rear box dormer where it does not, creating a top floor bedroom with a shower room and keeping the existing bedrooms untouched.
FAQs
Dormer loft conversions in Chatham, answered
What is an L shaped dormer?
Two dormers joined, one across the main rear roof and one over the back addition. On Victorian terraces it often produces a bedroom and a bathroom where a single dormer would only manage one room.
Do terraces have a smaller permitted development allowance?
Yes, the roof volume allowance for terraced houses is lower than for semis and detached homes, so the design has to be sized to it. Medway Council can confirm your position.
Will I need party wall agreements on both sides?
On a mid terrace, usually. The steels bear on both party walls, and the notices are a normal part of the programme.
Is head height a problem on Walderslade houses?
It can be, because the post war roofs are shallower. We measure ridge to ceiling joist on the first visit and tell you straight.
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Ready to convert your Chatham loft?
Free site visit, head height measured on the day, fixed price written quote.