HMO Conversion

7 Bed HMO

Chelmsford, Essex

Project Photography

Project Details

Client Brief

The project involved converting an existing three-bedroom dwelling in the heart of Chelmsford, Essex, into a seven-bedroom Sui Generis HMO. The aim was to maximise the accommodation available while creating a high-quality and comfortable property for shared living.

The Property

The property was a traditional three-bedroom dwelling located in central Chelmsford. With limited existing floor area available for the proposed seven-bedroom layout, the project required a significant reworking of the existing building alongside a series of carefully considered extensions.

Design Challenge

The key challenge was to create seven bedrooms from an original three-bedroom property while maintaining good-quality accommodation, practical circulation and appropriate fire safety measures. To achieve this, the proposals incorporated a rear single-storey extension, a two-storey extension and a loft conversion. The project also required careful consideration of planning requirements, Building Regulations and fire safety.

Design Solution

The existing property was extensively remodelled and extended to create the additional floor area required for the seven-bedroom HMO. A combination of a rear single-storey extension, two-storey extension and loft conversion provided the additional space needed to accommodate the proposed bedrooms and associated living accommodation. The internal layout was carefully planned to make efficient use of the available space while maintaining practical circulation and providing a high-quality living environment throughout.

Key Design Decisions

Transforming a three-bedroom dwelling into a seven-bedroom Sui Generis HMO.
Using a combination of single-storey, two-storey and loft extensions to maximise the available floor area.
Carefully planning the internal layout to make efficient use of the existing property.
Developing a considered fire strategy to meet the requirements of Building Regulations Part B.
Strategically positioning fire doors to provide the required level of fire protection without the need for a sprinkler system.

Planning

The project involved five separate planning applications, all of which were submitted to Chelmsford City Council. Each application was carefully developed to maximise the potential of the existing property while ensuring the proposed HMO accommodation was appropriate within the surrounding residential context. All five planning applications were approved on their first submission, allowing the project to progress without the need for resubmission.

Building Regulations

During the Building Regulations stage, Building Control raised concerns regarding the proposed fire strategy and escape routes. Working closely through the requirements with Building Control, the layout was refined to address the requirements of Part B. Fire doors were strategically incorporated into the design, allowing the required level of fire protection to be achieved without introducing lobbies to every bedroom. Following these alterations, the Building Regulations requirements were satisfied and the project was signed off.

The Result

The completed project transformed a three-bedroom dwelling into a seven-bedroom Sui Generis HMO, making significantly greater use of the existing property and site. Despite the high-density nature of the accommodation, considerable attention was given to the quality of both the internal and external finishes. The completed property provides a high-quality shared living environment that goes beyond the typical expectations of an HMO. The project was delivered by Grant Builders for Bless Co-Living, with both companies based in Chelmsford. Grant Builders have documented the project providing an insight into how the property was transformed from a three-bedroom dwelling into a seven-bedroom Sui Generis HMO. The video also gives an overview of the costs involved throughout the project, providing a useful insight into the investment required to deliver the conversion and extension.

Watch the build on Instagram

Inspired by this project?

Get in touch to discuss your own project — we offer a free initial consultation with no obligation.

Start Your Project Our Services

Back to Case Studies

New Build

New Build Family Home

Wickford, Essex

Project Photography

Project Details

Client Brief

The brief was to make better use of an existing residential site by improving the original bungalow while creating a new family home within the plot. The existing bungalow was to be renovated and extended into the loft, while redundant outbuildings were removed to create space for a new four-bedroom chalet-style dwelling. The new home needed to provide generous, practical living accommodation while making efficient use of the available footprint.

The Property

An established residential plot containing an existing bungalow and a number of outbuildings. The arrangement of the site provided an opportunity to retain and improve the original property while replacing the outbuildings with a carefully positioned new dwelling.

Design Challenge

The key challenge was to accommodate a four-bedroom family home within a relatively compact chalet-style form, while ensuring the internal spaces remained generous, practical and filled with natural light. The design also needed to work successfully alongside the retained bungalow and make efficient use of the available site.

Design Solution

The existing bungalow was renovated with a series of internal alterations and a loft conversion, improving the accommodation and making better use of the existing building. Alongside this, the existing outbuildings were removed to make way for a new four-bedroom chalet-style home. Two bedrooms, a family bathroom and a large open-plan kitchen and living space were arranged at ground-floor level, creating a spacious and flexible heart to the home. Two further bedrooms and a shower room were incorporated within the loft, with dormer windows providing additional usable floor area and natural light.

Key Design Decisions

Retaining and improving the existing bungalow rather than replacing it.
Removing the existing outbuildings to unlock space for an additional dwelling.
Using a chalet-style form to provide four bedrooms while keeping the overall scale of the new home controlled.
Locating two bedrooms and the main bathroom at ground-floor level, providing flexible and accessible accommodation.
Creating a generous open-plan kitchen and living area as the main family space.
Incorporating two further bedrooms and a shower room within the loft, with dormer windows increasing usable space and natural light.

Planning

The project required two separate planning applications to Basildon Borough Council. The first application covered the alterations and loft conversion to the existing bungalow, improving and extending the accommodation within the original property. A separate application was submitted for the new four-bedroom chalet-style dwelling, following the removal of the existing outbuildings. The design was carefully developed to make efficient use of the available site while considering its scale, positioning and relationship with the existing bungalow and neighbouring properties. Planning permission was successfully secured for both applications, allowing the overall development of the site to move forward.

Building Regulations

A full Building Regulations package was prepared for the new dwelling, coordinating the construction, structural, thermal, drainage and fire safety requirements. As a new-build property, SAP calculations were also required to demonstrate compliance with the relevant energy efficiency and carbon emission requirements. These were coordinated alongside the architectural drawings and incorporated into the final specification. The Building Regulations submission was approved by Building Control without any secondary comments or amendments required, reflecting the level of detail and coordination provided within the technical design package.

The Result

The project transformed an underused residential site into two improved homes, retaining and upgrading the original bungalow while introducing a new four-bedroom family dwelling. The completed chalet makes particularly effective use of its footprint, combining flexible bedroom accommodation with a generous open-plan kitchen and living space. The result is a bright, contemporary family home that feels considerably more spacious internally than its compact external form might suggest. All works were completed by Grant Builders based in Chelmsford.

Inspired by this project?

Get in touch to discuss your own project — we offer a free initial consultation with no obligation.

Start Your Project Our Services

Cottage Extension

Client Brief

The Property

Design Challenge

Design Solution

Key Design Decisions

Planning

Building Regulations

The Result

Inspired by this project?

Full Property Renovation

Client Brief

The Property

Design Challenge

Design Solution

Key Design Decisions

Planning

Building Regulations

The Result

Inspired by this project?

Replacement New Build

Client Brief

The Property

Design Challenge

Design Solution

Key Design Decisions

Planning

Building Regulations

The Result

Inspired by this project?

Loft Conversion

Client Brief

The Property

Design Challenge

Design Solution

Key Design Decisions

Planning

Building Regulations

The Result

Inspired by this project?

Single Storey Rear Extension

Client Brief

The Property

Design Challenge

Design Solution

Key Design Decisions

Planning

Building Regulations

The Result

Inspired by this project?

7 Bed HMO

Client Brief

The Property

Design Challenge

Design Solution

Key Design Decisions

Planning

Building Regulations

The Result

Inspired by this project?

New Build Family Home

Client Brief

The Property

Design Challenge

Design Solution

Key Design Decisions

Planning

Building Regulations

The Result

Inspired by this project?