Dormer bungalow

[LadyWentworth]

We moved into a dormer bungalow a couple of years ago which was extended downstairs with ample room for us. Upstairs is extended at the rear but the front of the house we are finding a problem. Two bedrooms at the front have small windows and sloping ceilings which limit the space and layout of the rooms. We’d like to make the windows bigger and extend the roof space of both, perhaps also adding a velux window to the landing which is dark. Has anyone done similar? We wouldn’t be extending exactly, just replacing the small dormers with something bigger. Would we need planning permission for this?

Yes any alterations to the front roof would need planning permission

The best thing to do would be to walk around your area and see what other similar houses have had done - this gives a good idea of what might get approved by planning.

Yes check other houses in your area. Are you looking to do front gable extensions or double hip to gable extensions? The latter can be under permitted development but not at the front of the house- you will need planning permission. I’d get an architect in to discuss your plans- find one on your council planning portal that a neighbour has used so they will understand your council

Are you talking about just making the dormer windows bigger OP? My DM has a dormer bungalow and did a complete conversion to the upstairs space. Dormers on front and back - gave her loads of room. No planning permission required, just building regs. As long as you stay within permitted development limits you’ll be fine,

@SpidersAreShitheads

Are you talking about just making the dormer windows bigger OP? My DM has a dormer bungalow and did a complete conversion to the upstairs space. Dormers on front and back - gave her loads of room. No planning permission required, just building regs. As long as you stay within permitted development limits you’ll be fine,

There are no permitted development rights for dormer windows on the front elevation of a house so OP would need planning permission as well as building regs approval.

@Takingabreakagain - I will bow to your superior knowledge on this. That's not sarcasm by the way, just in case it reads like that! My DM put dormers in the front and told me she didn't need planning permission - but I know she gets things a bit arse up sometimes. I know she had to get sign off from the building regs guy but she was adamant no planning permission. If you're saying it's definitely needed, then she must have done.

We want to replace existing dormer windows with bigger ones to increase the space in each room. I have been searching for similar houses online to see how it would change the interior. We have found plans for this house from the time of the last extension, with the dormers that we would like but for whatever reason the previous owners decided not to go with these plans and added ones. All our neighbours have larger dormers. Those plans were approved but that was over 10 years ago and I’m assuming this would be out of date/not applicable now.

If some of the neighbours have the same thing and what you want has already been approved it's likely that the planners would approve it again.