Hip to Gable Loft Conversion — Buckhurst Hill
Buckhurst Hill, Essex (IG9)
A 1930s semi-detached home in Buckhurst Hill where we produced the full drawings and planning package for a hip to gable conversion with rear dormer — turning a cramped, unusable loft into a master suite with en-suite, fitted wardrobes and a home office nook.
Project scope
- Hip to gable extension to the side roof
- Full-width rear dormer
- Master bedroom with en-suite shower room
- Bespoke fitted eaves wardrobes
- New staircase from the first-floor landing
- Lawful Development Certificate via Epping Forest DC
The brief
The owners came to us with a typical 1930s semi — three bedrooms on the first floor, a steep hipped roof, and a loft that was barely tall enough to stand in at the ridge. They wanted a proper master suite up there, with an en-suite and built-in storage, plus a quiet corner to work from. Tight to the budget, and they needed planning sorted before approaching builders.
What we designed
We drew up a hip to gable conversion to the left-hand roof slope, combined with a full-width rear dormer to maximise floor area. The new gable was specified in matching brick and the dormer clad in standing-seam zinc to give the rear elevation a sharper, more modern feel without spoiling the front. Internally we positioned the en-suite against the party wall to keep services short, with the bed wall under the new ridge to give the most generous head height. Bespoke angled wardrobes were planned along both eaves so no space was wasted.
Planning & approvals
The scheme fell within Permitted Development under the 50 m³ allowance, so we submitted a Lawful Development Certificate to Epping Forest District Council with full existing and proposed drawings and a site location plan. Approved without amendments. Building regulations drawings and structural calculations (sized for two new steel beams bedded into the new gable and party wall) were issued to the client's chosen builder shortly after.
Outcome
Photos here are from the completed build, shared by the homeowner once their builder finished on site. The new master suite gives a full standing-height room across nearly all of the floor area, with the en-suite, wardrobes and office nook all working exactly as drawn. A good result for the family — and a useful reference case for any other Buckhurst Hill or wider Essex owners with a hipped semi looking at the same conversion.
Project gallery
Photos from the completed build, shared by the homeowner.
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