PLANNING AND BUILDING REGS

Planning permission isn’t usually required unless you’re raising the height or profile of an existing roof. Consent is needed for works to listed buildings and in conservation areas (where changes are visible from the highway). Repairs and like-for-like replacements won’t normally need consent.

A Building Regs application is required for structural alterations or additions such as new dormer windows. Replacing up to 25% of the area of an existing layer of roof tiling with equivalent new materials shouldn’t trigger the requirement for upgraded insulation. However, if the materials are not like-for-like then assume that an application will be required. Replacing more than 25% will require upgrading roof insulation to new build standards (which most lofts should already meet with 270mm minimum depth of loft quilt).