A loft conversion turns unused roof space into a habitable room such as a bedroom, bathroom or office, with a proper staircase, insulation, fire protection and natural light from rooflights or a dormer.
Thinking about a loft conversion in Cirencester? We take charge of the whole project, co-ordinating every trade involved, and one person keeps you updated. Guide prices for the South West sit at £30,500–£66,000 including VAT, and a typical job takes 6–10 weeks on site. Your own figure depends on what the survey finds and the specification you settle on.
- Guide price
- £30,500–£66,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 6–10 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- GL7
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Gloucestershire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a loft conversion in Cirencester?
Every figure below is a guide for a loft conversion in Cirencester, inclusive of VAT. Regional pricing for the South West works out about 2% above the national guide, and the overall span is £30,500–£66,000. The survey costs you nothing, and after it we commit to a firm price for your specification in writing.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Cirencester |
|---|---|---|
| Rooflight conversion | Rooflights in the existing slope, a new floor, staircase and insulation, where head height already works. | £20,500–£35,500 |
| Dormer conversion | A rear dormer adding headroom and floor space, often with a bedroom and shower room. | £32,500–£61,000 |
| Hip-to-gable or mansard | Larger structural changes to the roof for the maximum usable space. | £51,000–£87,000 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Floor area, existing head height and roof structure
- Steelwork and any strengthening of walls below
- Adding a shower room or en-suite in the roof
- Staircase layout, fire doors and the level of finishes
What do you get?
- Structural calculations and steel beams where needed
- New floor joists strong enough for a habitable room
- Staircase designed to fit your landing and meet regulations
- Insulation to walls, roof slope and floor
- Fire doors, mains-linked smoke alarms and a protected escape route
- Plastering, internal doors and building control sign-off
What are homes like around Cirencester?
Golden Cotswold limestone defines towns and villages such as Cirencester, Stow and Tetbury, often with stone-slate roofs. Cheltenham is known for Regency stucco terraces and villas, Gloucester has Victorian brick terraces and interwar estates, the Stroud valleys have mill-era stone cottages, and the Forest of Dean uses its own sandstone.
Cotswold stone homes often need lime pointing, stone repairs and windows that suit conservation areas. Regency houses may call for render and decorating, while brick terraces and estate homes suit loft rooms and extensions.
With that background in mind, here is how we typically handle a loft conversion for homes in Cirencester, from the first visit to the finished result.
Permissions for a loft conversion in Cirencester
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Cirencester comes under England, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
In England, many loft conversions are permitted development: up to 40 m³ of extra roof space on a terraced house and 50 m³ on a semi-detached or detached house, no dormer on the front roof slope facing a road, nothing higher than the existing roof, and similar-looking materials. Conservation areas, listed buildings and flats need planning permission.
Building Regulations approval is always needed for a loft conversion: floor strength, a proper staircase, insulation, fire-protected escape route and smoke alarms. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 usually applies on attached houses.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
A visit to your home
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
Price and scope agreed
The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.
Getting ready
With the quote agreed, we book the work in and handle preparation: permissions where needed, building control notifications, material orders and access arrangements for your Cirencester property.
On site to finish
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
What fire safety measures does a loft conversion need?
A loft conversion needs a safe way out in a fire, because the new room is high above the ground. This usually means a protected stair route down to an exit, with fire doors onto the stairway, mains-linked smoke alarms on each floor and sometimes an escape window. The exact approach depends on your house layout. Building control checks these measures before signing off the work.
Is my loft suitable for conversion?
A loft is usually suitable for conversion if there is enough head height, a roof structure that can be adapted and space for a staircase. A common rule of thumb is at least 2.2m from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge, though dormers and mansards can create height where it is short. Modern trussed roofs need more structural work. We check all of this at the survey.
Where will the new staircase go?
The new staircase usually sits above the existing stairs, rising from the landing so it uses space that is already circulation. Sometimes it needs to come from a small bedroom or box room, which reduces that room's size. Building regulations set rules on headroom, step size and handrails, with some flexibility for lofts. We look at options at the survey and show you how each affects the floor below.
Which postcodes in Cirencester do you cover?
We cover GL7, along with the rest of Gloucestershire. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
Can you combine a loft conversion with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan a loft conversion alongside other work on your Cirencester home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Nearby towns
Our coverage in Cirencester includes GL7. We also travel to Stroud, Cheltenham and Swindon, so neighbouring addresses are looked after on exactly the same terms as those in town.