If you’re short on space but don’t want to lose garden area, an attic conversion is a smart way to expand upwards. Across Newcastle and the North East, homeowners are transforming unused lofts into bright, functional rooms that add both comfort and value. With the right planning and design, your attic can become a master suite, a peaceful home office, or a luxurious guest space — all while boosting your property’s resale potential.

1. Head height and structure come first

Your attic needs a minimum head height of around 2.3 metres to be suitable for conversion. If it falls short, options include lowering the ceiling below or adjusting the roof structure. These require careful planning and engineering input, so always seek professional advice before committing to designs.

Tip: Acre Design can assess your loft’s structural potential and provide layout concepts that maximise light and headroom.

2. A strong return on investment

A well-designed attic conversion can increase property value by up to 15%, often more than the cost of the build itself. Adding an extra bedroom and en-suite is particularly attractive to buyers in Newcastle’s growing housing market, especially in areas like Jesmond, Tynemouth and Gosforth.

Beyond value, the benefit is lifestyle: flexible space that adapts to your family’s needs today and tomorrow.

3. Planning permission and regulations

Most attic conversions fall under permitted development rights, meaning full planning permission isn’t usually required. Exceptions include:

Homes in conservation areas
Dormer extensions that exceed roof height limits
Flats or maisonettes, which require separate permission

Even without planning, Building Regulations approval is mandatory. This covers structural stability, insulation, ventilation, and fire safety — areas where Acre Design ensures full compliance.

4. Understand party wall requirements

If your home is terraced or semi-detached, you’ll need a Party Wall Agreement before construction begins. It’s a legal safeguard for both you and your neighbours, confirming the work won’t affect adjoining properties. Starting this process early avoids project delays and disputes.

5. Notify your lender and insurer

An attic conversion changes your property’s structure and value. Always inform your mortgage provider and home insurer before work begins to ensure your cover and loan terms remain valid. Many lenders simply update your valuation — but it’s crucial to do it before completion.

Unlock the potential in your Newcastle home

An attic conversion isn’t just about adding square footage, it’s about transforming how you live. Whether you want a peaceful master suite, creative studio, or light-filled office, Acre Design can help you reimagine your loft space with architectural precision and planning expertise.

If you’re planning to extend or renovate your home in Newcastle, Northumberland or North Tyneside, this is the perfect time to embed sustainability at the heart of your design. A well-planned, eco-friendly extension not only lowers running costs but also future-proofs your property and enhances long-term value.

Here are five practical ways to make your home extension greener, healthier and more efficient.

1. Upgrade insulation and glazing

Up to 40% of a home’s heat can be lost through walls, roofs, and poorly insulated windows. Investing in high-performance insulation and energy-efficient glazing will make an immediate difference. Consider triple glazing, airtight detailing, and natural insulation materials such as recycled denim, wood fibre or sheep’s wool. The result: lower bills, improved comfort, and a home that performs beautifully all year round.

2. Reuse and reduce water

A rainwater harvesting system can collect thousands of litres annually, perfect for flushing toilets, watering gardens or even running washing machines. Combine this with low-flow fittings, dual-flush toilets and aerated taps to make water efficiency part of everyday living — simple upgrades with lasting impact.

3. Smarter heating and control systems

Smart thermostats and zoning controls help you heat only where and when needed. Even reducing temperatures by one degree can make a noticeable difference to your energy use. Integrating smart controls into your renovation gives you greater comfort, insight, and savings — all while reducing waste.

4. Choose eco-friendly finishes

Sustainable design extends to the finishes you choose. Opt for VOC-free paints, lime or clay plasters, and FSC-certified timber flooring. Natural materials support healthy indoor air quality and create spaces that feel calm, tactile, and timeless — an aesthetic that complements Acre Design’s architectural approach.

5. Explore renewable energy options

If your project involves substantial upgrades, it’s an excellent opportunity to introduce renewable systems. Air-source and ground-source heat pumps, solar panels, or efficient biomass stoves can all reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower emissions. Our team can help you assess what’s feasible for your site, budget and long-term sustainability goals.

Plan your greener home with Acre Design

At Acre Design Newcastle, sustainability is part of our process — not an add-on. Whether you’re extending, refurbishing or self-building, we’ll help you make considered design decisions that reduce energy use and deliver a lasting return on investment.

View our recent sustainable projects or arrange a free consultation to start planning your greener home.

If you own a home in a conservation area, you already know how special these locations are. They exist to protect the area’s character, history, and architecture. They often come with higher property values but when it comes to extending or altering your home, the planning rules are different, and navigating them successfully requires expertise.

At Acre Design, we specialise in architectural design for conservation areas across Newcastle and the North East. Over the past 20 years, our team has delivered bespoke extensions for period homes, from elegant Victorian terraces in Tynemouth and Jesmond, to stone-built houses in Hexham, Warkworth, and Alnwick. We know how to design spaces that meet modern living standards while preserving heritage and how to secure the necessary permissions to make them a reality.

What is a conservation area?

A conservation area is a designated zone where local authorities protect the architectural and historical character of buildings and streetscapes. It could be a row of Edwardian villas in Whitley Bay, a market town high street in Alnwick, or a cluster of miners’ cottages in Stocksfield.

The goal is to prevent overdevelopment and maintain the visual harmony, craftsmanship, and cultural importance of the area — protecting both its beauty and its long-term value.

How to check if your home is in a conservation area

Most local authority websites include an interactive map or postcode search. You can also use tools such as:
www.conservationareachecker.com

If your property is within a conservation area, you’ll usually need full planning permission for external alterations — even for work that would otherwise fall under permitted development rights.

Understanding local guidance

Each conservation area has its own written appraisal and management plan. This outlines the architectural details, materials, and proportions that contribute to its unique identity.

In many cases, permitted development rights are restricted under an Article 4 Direction. This means that changes such as replacing windows, adding extensions, or altering roof coverings require formal approval. The good news is that with the right design, consent is entirely achievable.

Working with conservation area officers

Planning applications in conservation zones are reviewed with input from a Conservation Area Officer (CAO). Their focus is to retain the area’s character, remove unsympathetic past alterations, and ensure any new work is appropriate in scale, materials, and detailing.

While many homeowners assume only an architect can manage these submissions, what’s truly needed is detailed understanding of heritage design and planning policy. That’s where Acre Design’s experience makes the difference. We collaborate closely with planning officers, heritage consultants, and local architects to strengthen every proposal we submit.

What’s possible?

Loft Conversions

Conservation-style rooflights to the front
Modest dormers to the rear
Avoid oversized box dormers or full hip-to-gable conversions unless precedent exists

Bedroom Extensions

Side extensions must be clearly subservient, set back from the main frontage
Corner plots require particular care as both sides are street-facing
Matching materials and detailing are essential

Ground Floor Extensions

Porches: Small, well-detailed, often glazed to reduce visual weight
Side Extensions: Subtle, proportionate, and aligned with existing structure
Rear Extensions: Greater flexibility; contemporary designs can work when sympathetic to the original architecture

Why it’s worth the effort

Securing conservation area consent may take longer and require more documentation, but it’s worth it. These designations protect your street from poor-quality development — and a carefully considered extension can enhance your home’s usability, comfort, and value.

In sought-after areas such as Jesmond, Tynemouth, Gosforth, and Warkworth, premium heritage architecture deserves a premium design response. The right approach safeguards your investment while creating a space tailored to modern life.

How we help

Our process covers everything from research to approval:

Researching local conservation policies and guidance for your specific area
Designing with both lifestyle needs and architectural heritage in mind
Preparing and submitting detailed planning applications
Liaising with planning officers and heritage specialists to achieve approval

Your part is simple:

Share your goals, budget, and style preferences
Tell us how you live and what you want from your new space
We handle the rest — from concept to consent.

Extending a home in a conservation area?

Contact Acre Design Newcastle for a free consultation. We’ll help you achieve a seamless extension that complements your home’s character while meeting today’s standards for comfort and performance, in Tynemouth, Jesmond, Hexham, Alnwick, Corbridge, or anywhere across the North East.

If you’re planning a home extension or renovation, one of the first decisions you’ll face is who to trust with the design. Should you hire an architect or an architectural designer? For many homeowners in Newcastle, Tynemouth, Northumberland, and across the North East, the distinction isn’t always clear, yet the choice can have a major impact on the quality, cost, and experience of your project.

At Acre Design, we specialise in architectural design for homeowners who want a complete, well-managed service — from first concept through to planning, approvals, and build. Here’s what sets each route apart, and how to decide which approach is right for your home.

What’s the difference between an architect and an architectural designer?

An architect is a registered professional who has completed formal architectural qualifications and is regulated by the ARB (Architects Registration Board). Their focus often sits at the conceptual and creative end of the design spectrum — developing the initial vision and setting the overall design intent.

An architectural designer, on the other hand, is a broader term that covers professionals who specialise in the practical, technical, and delivery-focused aspects of building design. They often bring deep experience in residential projects, planning processes, and construction-level detailing, offering a more tailored, cost-efficient service for homeowners.

At Acre Design, our team includes qualified architectural designers and experienced technicians who work closely with trusted architects and engineers when specific expertise is required. That collaboration ensures every project benefits from creative design flair and technical precision, without unnecessary layers of cost or complexity.

When you might choose an architect

If your project involves a complex new build, experimental form, or requires design originality above all else, an architect’s conceptual design strength can be valuable. Architects also play a vital role on large commercial, civic, or heritage projects that demand deep theoretical and spatial exploration.

However, for the vast majority of home extensions, loft conversions, and refurbishments across the North East, homeowners find that a specialist architectural design practice offers greater flexibility, responsiveness, and cost control, while still delivering exceptional results.

When an Architectural Designer is the better fit

For home improvement projects that balance creativity with practicality, architectural designers are often the smarter choice. A practice like Acre Design Newcastle focuses on creating realistic, buildable designs that enhance your lifestyle, work within your budget, and navigate local planning smoothly.

We combine aesthetic vision with construction knowledge, helping you visualise your project in 3D, understand the likely costs early, and avoid surprises once the build begins. Because we handle every stage in-house, from measured survey to technical drawings, planning submissions, and contractor coordination, your experience is seamless and stress-free.

What’s included in a full-Service design process

When you partner with Acre Design, you’re not just getting a set of drawings. You’re investing in a fully managed architectural design service that covers:

Measured surveys and 3D digital modelling for complete accuracy
Creative concept design with multiple layout and aesthetic options
Early-stage budgeting to ensure your vision aligns with cost reality
Planning and building control submissions prepared and managed on your behalf
Detailed construction drawings and specification ready for tender
Contractor coordination and oversight to keep the build on time and on budget

It’s a comprehensive process that transforms your ideas into a well-executed, value-enhancing home.

Cost and value considerations

Architects typically charge a percentage of total build cost, while architectural designers often offer more flexible, transparent pricing tailored to the project’s scope. The difference is not just in cost — it’s in service style.

A design-led firm like Acre Design invests more time in technical detailing, visualisation, and communication. The result is a smoother build, fewer variations, and a finished home that truly reflects how you live.

Why local knowledge matters

Planning policies vary across the North East. From Jesmond and Heaton’s conservation zones to Northumberland’s rural planning restrictions, having a local design team who understands how to work with your local authority can save weeks, even months, of delay.

Our familiarity with Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside, Northumberland, and Gateshead planning teams means your proposal is always prepared in the right format, with the right level of detail.

Architectural Designer or Architect Near Me — The Acre Design Difference

If you’re searching for “an architect near me” or “architectural designer near me” in Newcastle, the key is to find a team who can handle every stage. from creative design to final sign-off.

At Acre Design, we combine architectural imagination with technical precision and real-world experience. We manage your project end-to-end, ensuring a beautifully designed, properly approved, and smoothly delivered home extension or renovation.

Whether you’re planning a modern kitchen extension in Gosforth, a loft conversion in Tynemouth, or a full renovation in Hexham, we’ll guide you every step of the way.

Ready to Discuss Your Project?

Contact Acre Design Newcastle today for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand whether you need an architect, an architectural designer, or a combination of both — and how to make your project a success from the very start.

Many of our clients come to us with the same dilemma: They love their home, they love the area—but the space no longer supports how they want to live.

That was exactly the situation in my own family. We live in a solid 1950s home in Dinnington. Great neighbourhood, excellent schools, easy access to the countryside—it ticked all the boxes. But with two growing children, we were starting to outgrow it. Like many households, we had an old conservatory that was underused and no longer fit for purpose.

We replaced it with a carefully considered extension that opens out from the kitchen and flows naturally into the garden. It’s a beautifully resolved space, bright, functional, and thoughtfully designed to improve everyday living.

The result? Genuinely transformative.

There’s now room to cook, relax, entertain and enjoy family life—without compromise. It’s comfortable, calm, and connected to the rest of the house in a way the old layout simply didn’t allow. On a practical level, we no longer feel squeezed. On a personal level, it’s a joy to spend time in.

Most importantly, we’re no longer thinking about moving. We’ve made our home work for the next chapter of our lives.

Why This Matters to You

If you’re starting to feel that your home no longer fits your lifestyle, an extension can do more than just add square footage—it can restore balance, create flow, and improve the way you live every day.

We work with homeowners across Newcastle, Northumberland and the wider Northeast who are looking to make a lasting investment in their homes. Whether you’re interested in reworking your ground floor layout, creating an open-plan kitchen-living space, or future-proofing your home with single-storey living, we can help you explore what’s possible—with clarity and confidence.

At Acre Design, we specialise in high-quality residential extensions that blend architectural integrity with practical needs. Our team guides you from initial concept through to planning, tendering and build, with experience, attention to detail, and full transparency at every step.

Planning Ahead

Design, planning and contractor availability all take time, so early preparation leads to better outcomes.

Whether you’re ready to begin or just gathering ideas, we’d love to hear from you. You can let us know where you are in the process by filling out the short form below. We’ll use your feedback to make sure our advice and updates are as useful as possible.

Our clients in North Shields had recently purchased a contemporary townhouse — a home spread across three levels with a non-traditional layout. While the property offered breathtaking views of the River Tyne from the first-floor living area, it also presented daily challenges. The kitchen was located on the ground floor, meaning constant trips up and down stairs whenever family and friends gathered for meals.

They came to Acre Design with a clear request: to make their home more practical without losing the beauty of its design.

A design solution focused on lifestyle

Our proposal was a single-storey rear extension at entrance level, designed to create a generous dining and entertaining space directly connected to the kitchen. To preserve light and openness, we introduced a striking lantern glass roof, keeping the structure visually elegant while maintaining a discreet overall height. This ensured the design complemented the home, avoided overshadowing neighbouring properties, and kept planning straightforward.

Transforming the flow of family life

The result will be a home that feels more intuitive, where daily routines no longer involve navigating unnecessary stairs. The new space creates a hub for entertaining, allowing family and friends to cook, dine, and socialise together on the same level. It’s a simple but transformative change, one that improves the way the property works for its owners while enhancing its long-term value.

For our clients, this extension is not just an addition; it’s a rethinking of how their home supports the way they live, day to day.

Our clients in Seaburn, Sunderland, recently acquired a tired semi-detached house that hadn’t been updated for decades. Despite its condition, the property offered something truly rare — a front elevation that looks directly out to the North Sea. With this comes both opportunity and challenge: an unrivalled view paired with the need to protect against the elements.

They came to Acre Design with a clear wish list of lifestyle spaces — an open-plan kitchen and dining area, a cinema room, a gym, and, most importantly, a way to maximise those spectacular sea views. Our role was to take that vision and create a home that not only delivered it but also felt considered, elegant, and in harmony with the streetscape.

A design shaped by views, lifestyle, and legacy

Our solution was to extend to the side, the rear, and into the loft, carefully balancing practicality with architectural impact. By echoing the form of the existing turret and peaked gables, the new design respects the area’s character while bringing the home into the 21st century.

At the heart of the scheme is light-filled, open-plan living, designed for entertaining family and friends. Upstairs, balconies on both the first and second floors ensure the sea becomes part of daily life, whether enjoying a morning coffee, hosting sundowners, or simply watching the horizon. Private leisure spaces, including a home gym and a cinema room, create a home that is not only functional but also a retreat tailored to our clients’ lifestyle.

A home to enjoy for decades to come

This project is a perfect example of what many of our clients in the North East are seeking: a home that enhances quality of life now while creating a lasting family legacy. With only minor adjustments, the design was approved for submission to the local planning department — a smooth process backed by our expertise in balancing ambition with approvals.

For our clients, the result is more than an extension. It’s the transformation of a forgotten house into a forever home, perfectly suited for the next chapter of their lives.

In Cullercoats, North Tyneside, our clients approached Acre Design with the ambition of creating a home that better reflected their lifestyle. The brief was clear: to maximise space, improve flow, and design a light-filled open plan area that would bring family and friends together.

The design vision

Our solution combined a garage conversion with a full-length single-storey rear extension, uniting the two elements to create a striking open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space. Internally, carefully considered wall removals were introduced to enhance connectivity and deliver the sense of scale and openness our clients desired.

A home for living and entertaining

The result is a home designed for both family life and entertaining. With generous proportions, natural light, and a seamless connection between indoors and out, the property now offers an inspiring space for cooking, dining, and gathering.

Designed around the client

Our clients were delighted with the initial concept and required only minimal refinements before the plans were finalised — a testament to the collaborative design process and the clarity of their vision brought to life through our expertise.

Ready to unlock the potential of your home?

If you’re considering a garage conversion, extension, or full renovation project in Cullercoats, North Tyneside, or across the North East, Acre Design can help you transform your property into a home designed around your lifestyle. Contact us today to arrange a consultation and take the first step towards your own bespoke design.

Creating an open plan living space is a great way to maximize the use of available space, while giving the home a cohesive style. When designing your open space, it’s important to consider elements like scale, flow, and texture to ensure that the end result is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.

Identify the Type of Space

Before designing your open plan space, it is important to identify which type of space you need. Ask yourself questions like what type of activities or gatherings will be taking place in the room. Will it be an area used for entertaining? If so, will there be a designated dining area? Once you have identified the types of activities that will take place in the space, you can begin to consider how to create an environment conducive to them.

Form Follows Function

Function should be the driving design force behind any plan for an open space. The goal should be to create a functional layout that maximizes all available space for each activity. This can include anything from properly designed counter top space or seating arrangements to implementing natural light sources or movement patterns when needed. It is important to consider how the activities within each space will interact with one another so that each element has its own purpose, but still interacts with the rest of the environment in harmony.

Set a Design Theme

When designing an open plan space, it is essential to establish a design theme that can carry throughout the whole area. This allows all elements of the plan to fit together seamlessly and also helps create a focal point in each area. Factors such as colour, texture, pattern and light will all help determine your overall theme. Utilize textures or finishes that both border and contrast with one another depending on what activity is occurring within each space for a stylish finish.

Think About How You Will Use the Space

As with all rooms, it is important to consider use when designing an open plan space. Think about which activities and events you generally take part in and which areas need to be blocked off for these activities. This will help inform your overall design as it will help define the area for each event or activity. For example, you may wish to include comfortable seating areas for relaxing and family time, as well as plenty of storage solutions to create a clutter-free environment. One of our clients recently shared with us how glad she was that she encorporated a second dishwasher. Christmas is now that bit tidier and less stressful because of this detail! We always like to remind clients about the bins – a hidden bin and recycling area can transform the feel of a space.

Incorporate Flexible Solutions

When designing an open plan space, flexibility should be a priority. Incorporate furniture that can serve different purposes easily. This could mean buying modular or multi-functional furniture such as day beds, which can double as sofas for extra seating when needed. Similarly, use rugs to create distinct zones within the same open floor plan and move them around according to your needs. With a flexible layout and design, you can turn your open plan space into different atmospheres for working, relaxing or entertaining guests at a moment’s notice.

Think About How You Will Use the Space

If you love your home but need more space, working with Acre Design to extend it can be a smarter and more rewarding choice than moving. We help homeowners across Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne design high-quality extensions that not only add space, but also improve how the home flows, feels and functions. With the right design, you can stay in the location you love, while creating a home that better supports the way you want to live.

Here are some of the most popular types of extensions we design for clients in the region, along with the benefits of each approach.

Loft Conversions

A loft conversion is a practical way to create an additional bedroom, home office, or dedicated hobby space. This type of extension makes use of underused roof space and can add significant flexibility to your home without altering the footprint. With the right design, a converted loft can feel every bit as integrated and comfortable as the rest of the house.

Ground Floor Extensions

Extending at ground level can dramatically enhance the way you use your home. Whether you are opening up the rear of the house for an open plan kitchen and living area, creating a ground floor guest suite, or introducing a more connected indoor–outdoor lifestyle, this type of extension is ideal for families and those planning for long-term comfort and accessibility.

Side and Two Storey Extensions

Side and double storey extensions offer excellent potential for improving both ground and first floor layouts. They are often used to create additional bedrooms, bathrooms, utility spaces, or home offices, while reconfiguring existing areas to improve flow. These extensions work especially well on properties with unused side access, garage structures, or generous plots, and can provide a seamless continuation of your home’s existing architecture.

Start planning with Acre Design

Extending your home is a significant project, but with the right team, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding journey. At Acre Design, we help homeowners across Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside reimagine their space with creativity, clarity and care.

Thinking about extending your home? Book a free call with Acre Design today and take the first step towards creating a space that truly works for the way you live.