The government new proposals stink in my opinion. To buy a property with one more bedroom in my area will cost me about £80,000 more than my current property is worth, then adding stamp duty, estate agent fees, removal and legal costs means that I would need to increase my mortgate by AT LEAST £150,000, the majority of which will be money down the drain. It is not a conservatory people with growing families need, it is real accommodation like bedrooms and the obvious place to get it is out of the loft.
Lofts could also provide acres of space ripe for conversion to provide accommodation for first time buyers desperate to get on the property ladder. Wake up and smell the coffee Ruth Kelly - do something posivie to help the nation instead of imposing yet more restrictions - I am sorry if the skyline is not what you would like to see, but we have genuine needs, growing families that cannot afford to move, why are you making it more difficult for us?

Claire Portman, Weybridge, Surrey

My Husband is self employed, wooden staircase maker, who has three men working fro him. His main customers are loft conversion companies. The new rules would mean that most houses would be stopped from having a loft conversion, because of the restrictions of size. How is any one going to be able to make more room is there house, if they can't have a loft conversion and can't afford to move? put a tent up in the garden, or do you need planning permission for that? If loft conversions are done correctly they make the house more inviromently sound by being better insulated. Loft companies will go out of bussiness, and so will my husband, if this is allowed to go ahead.
Bats are lovely little things, but people are more important.

ELAINE BLACKWELL, epping, essex

I can't see the problem here. Why should people be able to do anything they like to their property at the expense of their neighbours? - for example, put in a window looking into their house or overlooking their garden. I certainly wouldn't like to entrust aesthetic or environmental issues to the 'judgement' of a jobbing builder!

bluebelle, burford,

I am in the long process of completing a loft conversion currently, and I can say it is an utterly chaotic and soul destroying process.

I found my local planning authority, Southwark, a mess.
There is a immense dependency on individual opinion which breeds inconsistency. Lack of qualification requirements further undermines the role.

Even post planning permission, building inspectors request material changes to a plan that has been approved by the planning authority months prior, mid-construction.

The disjointed timelines and lack of clear ownership and policy result in suboptimal outcomes for all. I particullarly feel that both I and my neighbors have needlessly suffered.

Its hard to imagine the process being any worse, so hopefully the changes will improve things. Don't forget though the impact of the muppets that actually carry out the process!

Gary Plant, London,

I'm glad that bigger loft conversions are likely to be tighter managed as a volunteer bat roost visitor I see many examples of lofts where bats are present that would be potentially homeless if a conversion took place unless special mitigation is put in place via planning. Many lofts I visit have bats roosting in or around them with the owners unaware that as a European protected species all Bats and their roosts are protected by law. Having seen bats in many different roof spaces I think all conversions should have a bat check before any plans are even made in pencil.

James Bisset, Herefordshire, UK

We sold a three bed semi recently that had a garage and space for a parking two cars outside. The new owner did a loft conversion, adding two new bedrooms, and then sold to a buy-to-letter. There are now 5 different tenants in the house, all of them car owners. Our ex-neighbours are furious, as well they might be, having to "defend" the space outside their homes.

Colin, Nice Ville, France

Thank goodness for this. Planning control is needed. These proposals seem logical and necessary. Charging for planning permission is the only way to stop unsightly and obtrusive extensions being built willy-nilly, then people may think twice before doing so

Lynda Plum, London, england

It seems to be a similar the planning equivalent of one of GB's tax reductions.

Another uctting of red tape that actually produces more of the stuff. Why is no one surprised? It's just more spin. And Blair wonders why people are cynical when it comes to this government.

Edwin Thornber, Bucharest, Romania

Householders are in fact allowed a maximum extension of 70 cubic metres or equal to 15% of the current volume of their house.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK