@Victoria, Well, now that you've asked... We got planning permission for the project back in November but the first builder we asked for a quote suggested that we were wasting a lot of potential by not putting another room up there (at the top/back of the first picture). So, I revised the drawing by adding another bedroom to the rear and putting another bathroom/en-suite where the void and resubmitting for planning. After some time, the structural engineer came up with drawings and calculations for the project and the builder's quote came in @ £125k. With VAT on top of that, we just can't justify spending that much and was expecting it to be less. So, the whole project is on hold while we consider our options... Thanks for your interest.

A bit more info would be useful please. E.g floor plans, photos, what you're hoping to achieve. When you say 'house' do you mean removing the roof adding on another floor or converting the loft? If converting the loft, will you need dormer windows for extra height / space or will veluxes be ok? How many bedrooms will you need? Hard to offer advice without more info.

I agree with the above comment; get an architect to redesign. If you like it open plan, you might want to think about removing some of the wall that splits the kitchen from the living area. If you get rid of the bit that goes from the back of the house up until almost level with the small window, next to the chimney in the current living room, you would give yourself a massive L shape to play with, and a second bathroom, where the kitchen currently sits; very useful if you need all 5 bedrooms! I would put the kitchen in the old bit of kitchen/dinner with a view of the garden, the dining table in the corner of the L and if you decide you want a bit of quite in the living area at the front, you could always add doors. As for the upstairs bedrooms and garage, look up and down the road at neighbours, see if any of the houses have altered the roof line to include dormers and changed the use of the garages, this will give you a good idea of the local planning regs. The garage probably won't be a problem, but roof dormers might be. Good luck

I think you'd be better off posting a plan with dimensions. Are you set against the full two storey and having dormers. Did you get costings from the builder or are you just taking his opinion? Yes, brick two storey is more expensive, but obviously:- 1 - more spacious and 2 - adds more value. I guess it depends on your budget. Anything is possible with the right amount of money. If you post a plan, then maybe someone will pick it up and can give you options, then you can get costings properly.