Extra bedrooms, a home office or a light-filled living space — designed into your existing roof, with the planning and building-regulation drawings handled in-house.
A loft conversion adds valuable living space without extending the footprint of your home — an effective way to gain a bedroom, a home office or a quiet living area. Orange Key designs loft conversions for homeowners across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, including Reading, Newbury, Wokingham, Maidenhead, Oxford and Abingdon.
As part of our wider architectural design service, we assess whether a conversion is feasible for your property and prepare the drawings needed to take it from an idea through to a buildable project.
Not every loft is suitable, and feasibility depends on the roof structure, the available head height and the layout of the house below. During the design stage we review the existing roof space and consider layout options that work within the structure — including where a new staircase can sensibly land.
The right approach depends on the shape of your existing roof and the planning constraints affecting the property. Common forms include:
Some loft conversions fall within permitted development, while dormer and mansard schemes — and homes in conservation areas — often need planning permission. We prepare the planning permission drawings for your application, and the detailed building regulations drawings that every loft conversion requires for structure, fire safety and means of escape.
“A dormer loft conversion adding bright, generous rooms within an existing roof — designed to sit naturally with the character of the house.”
A loft conversion project by Orange KeyWe work on loft conversion projects throughout both counties, and our familiarity with the local planning authorities helps us develop proposals that respond to policy and to the practicalities of building in an existing roof. See the areas we cover across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, or get in touch to talk your project through.
It depends on the available head height, the roof structure and the layout below — as a rough guide you need around 2.2–2.4m at the ridge. We review the roof space and advise on whether a conversion is feasible and which type would suit best.
Many loft conversions fall within permitted development, but dormer and mansard schemes on some properties — and homes in conservation areas — require planning permission. We assess the route early and prepare the planning drawings where needed.
Yes — all loft conversions require building regulations approval, covering structure, fire safety and means of escape. We prepare the building regulations drawings and coordinate with a structural engineer where required.
The main types are rooflight (Velux), dormer, hip-to-gable and mansard conversions. The right approach depends on your existing roof shape and any planning constraints affecting the property.
Concept to planning, across Berkshire & Oxfordshire.
Learn more → 02Single & double-storey, side and wrap-around.
Learn more → 03Drawings and applications for your local authority.
Learn more → 04Technical drawings to build and sign off.
Learn more →Tell us about your property in Berkshire or Oxfordshire and what you'd like to achieve — we'd be happy to talk it through.