Building advice and guides

Plain-English guides to planning permission, Building Regulations, party walls and planning your extension or loft conversion in Manchester.

Planning 7 min read

The 3 and 4 metre rules, the 6 and 8 metre prior approval route, two-storey limits and the situations where you will need full planning permission.

Planning your project 6 min read

Moving versus extending, what affects the cost, how to check your street's ceiling price, and when an extension might not be the right call.

Planning 6 min read

Volume limits, dormer and rooflight rules, when planning is needed, and the Building Regulations every loft conversion must meet.

Planning 5 min read

When a garage conversion is permitted, the planning conditions to watch for on newer estates, and the Building Regulations you will always need.

Regulations 6 min read

How Building Regulations differ from planning, which parts apply to your project, how inspections work and why the completion certificate matters.

Regulations 6 min read

When the Party Wall Act applies, which notices to serve and when, what happens if a neighbour disagrees, and how to keep things friendly.

Planning your project 5 min read

A side-by-side look at cost, value per square metre, planning, disruption and future-proofing to help you choose.

Planning your project 6 min read

Typical timescales for design, approvals and each stage of the build, plus the common causes of delay and how to avoid them.

Ready to talk about your project?

Our guides cover the basics. For advice on your own home, book a free site visit, or explore our home extensions and loft conversions.

Tell us about your project and we will arrange a free site visit, then send you a detailed written quote.

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