North Cornwall · EX23
Loft Conversions that reads Stratton properly
A well-designed loft conversion adds a bedroom, an en-suite and useful storage to homes that were never built with the upper floor in mind — usually inside permitted development and almost always cheaper per square metre than extending sideways. The Stratton version of this work has its own character — Stratton is a market village in the EX23 area, acting as a local service centre for surrounding farms and hamlets, with a building stock that leans toward stone cottages and shops with flats above.
Stratton sits in North Cornwall — covering EX23 from Bude, Poughill, Flexbury outward.
- Conservation Area
- ✓ Measured-survey accuracy from day one
- ✓ One studio — design, planning and build under one roof
- ✓ Local to North Cornwall — not a national franchise
- ✓ Same team on paper as on site
Local watch-list
The EX23 constraints that shape a loft conversion brief.
Watch #1
Conservation Area material and fenestration controls in central Stratton
Who this is for
Stratton runs the full mix — owner-occupier, holiday-let, commercial and the occasional smallholding — so we scope every loft conversion enquiry from the use-class up.
Local context
Why Stratton is its own job.
Around Stratton (EX23), town-centre heritage, parking, shopfront character and edge-of-settlement growth all need to be balanced in applications. For loft conversion specifically, parts of Stratton sit within a designated Conservation Area, which means materials, fenestration and roof pitches all need to read sympathetically with the existing streetscape. Reading Stratton properly up front saves more time than any drawing tool ever will. Most of our loft conversion work in Stratton lands on stone cottages, with detailing that has to nod to the wider Poughill streetscape.
Planning note
Most Cornish loft conversions are permitted development — but a Certificate of Lawfulness is worth the extra week and small fee for resale protection.
What we focus on
Loft Conversions considerations specific to Stratton.
01
Cornish slate roofs come in a huge range of pitches — anything below a 30° pitch struggles to give usable headroom without raising the ridge.
02
Permitted development volume allowances are 40 cubic metres on a terrace and 50 on a detached or semi — but rear dormers in Conservation Areas often need full planning.
03
Stairs eat space — a loft conversion lives or dies by where the new staircase lands and what it costs you on the floor below.
04
Cut-roof Cornish properties are easier to convert than modern trussed roofs; the structural strategy varies completely.
Our process
How a Stratton loft conversion project runs.
Step 1
Feasibility
Roof, headroom, stair landing and structural assessment.
Step 2
Design
Layout options that respect the staircase, headroom and bathroom positioning.
Step 3
Approvals
Planning or permitted development confirmation, plus building regs.
Step 4
Build
Sequenced to keep the family living downstairs throughout most of the work.
Step 5
Handover
Finish, snag, certify, hand over the keys.
Loft conversions typically run six to eighteen weeks on site depending on type, with four to eight weeks of design and approvals beforehand.
FAQs
Stratton Loft Conversions — local questions answered.
- How much does a loft conversion cost?
- A simple Velux conversion starts around £30,000 in Cornwall; a rear dormer with en-suite typically runs £45,000 to £65,000; hip-to-gable and mansards more. Stair location and bathroom complexity drive most of the cost. In Stratton specifically, we'd start by checking the Conservation Area boundary before committing to a direction.
- How long does a loft conversion take?
- Allow six to ten weeks on site for a Velux conversion, eight to fourteen weeks for a dormer, twelve to eighteen weeks for hip-to-gable. Add four to eight weeks for design and regs beforehand.
- Will it add value?
- An extra bedroom and bathroom typically adds noticeably more value than the build cost in most Cornish markets — but the value matters less than the daily use you'll get from the space.
- Can I live downstairs while it's built?
- Yes — most loft conversions are built with the family staying in the house. There'll be a couple of disruptive days when the staircase comes through, but the bulk of the work is upstairs.
- Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
- Often no — most loft conversions sit inside permitted development on a typical Cornish house. Conservation Areas, AONB and properties on principal elevations need full planning, and we'll confirm at first review.
Stratton is part of Bude
Stratton sits inside the Bude catchment — we cover both as one loft conversion territory.
See Loft Conversions in Bude →Local proof — We typically have one or two loft conversion jobs live in the EX23 area at any time, so the local planning officers know our drawings on sight.
Get a free feasibility viewOther services in Stratton
Nearby places we cover
If you're considering a loft conversion project in the EX23 area, our deep understanding of Stratton's architectural character can help navigate the process smoothly.