The construction industry is seeing completions rise, but conversions and extensions are accounting for a high proportion of current activity.

Given the high cost of land, and our convoluted planning regulations, more and more developers are turning their attention to the potential that older buildings offer for conversion.

Throughout the country there are disused buildings, such as mills, manufactories, and engineering works gradually falling into disrepair, that with some imagination on the part of developers and planners are ripe for conversion into modern office or residential space.

Given the demand for new homes and the changing demographics of our city centres - young urban professionals looking to enjoy a city centre lifestyle with nearby bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, still all within easy reach of the office, it makes sound commercial and aesthetic sense to bring these buildings back into use.

Innovative modern insulation, soundproofing and double-glazing technology, coupled with imaginative design can turn these spaces into attractive living or working spaces, leading many large attractive Victorian buildings to breathe new life into often run down areas of our cities.

The movement to make better use of the buildings we already have is also well underway in the residential sector, as more and more of us reconfigure our living spaces. We are all used to our local area sprouting loft conversions and kitchen extensions, but a less obvious conversion comes in the form of cellar and basement conversions.

Total planning applications have seen a 27% increase across the UK, with basements in particular soaring in popularity, according to the Halifax, especially in London, with a 183% increase in planning applications over five years. Single storey extensions are up by 49% and loft conversions are still growing, up 43% since 2012. People are still choosing to add porches and conservatories to their properties, but these are becoming less popular as opposed to a more solid construction such as a garden room.

Many properties have untapped potential, and renovations can make a home more enjoyable to live in as well as adding to its market value.

What do you want to achieve, another bedroom, an office, a large live-in family friendly kitchen an extra bathroom or perhaps a playroom for your children?

Any conversion or extension is likely to be costly, sobefore you make a start talk to a local estate agent to find out what renovations are popular in your area. Every street has a ceiling value so don’t over develop if you want to see a good return on your investment. Plan wisely and you’ll add value.

On the subject of planning wisely, engage an architect, no matter how simple the project, an architect will make sure that the conversion “works”, and that you end up with a home that’s right for you and that you will enjoy living in.

You can hire an architect to manage all of the building process, including helping you secure planning consent, where necessary and building regulation certification, finding a suitable builder, monitoring progress, standards and safety on site, arranging input from specialists and overseeing construction to completion.

One of the best ways to find an architect is through personal recommendation, or through RIBA, which can provide a shortlist of architects with the skills to suit your project. Log on to architecture.com/useanarchitect for a directory of registered practices.

Your architect may recommend a builder they have worked with before or you may already have had a builder recommended to you, alternatively the Federation of Master Builders will have a list of members in your area at www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder/find-a-builder-in-your-area

The rising popularity of basement conversions is often due to the idea that they may not need planning permission, being already within the property’s footprint, so come under the permitted development regulations. But building regulations still apply, and care must be taken not to destabilise the main building. Definitely a time to take advice from a professional before starting!

Most contemporary extensions are a world away from those awkward structures that attempted unsuccessfully to blend in with an existing building, and have moved on from the ultra-modern glass boxes and mixed materials of the past few years. ‘People are still happy to change the structure of a building and do something a bit more dramatic, but purity is a big trend, and using lots of different materials is less fashionable than it has been,’ says architect Guy Morgan-Harris. ‘Instead, opt for something more refined. Pure white-rendered extensions work well on period houses, or choose a design clad entirely in timber.’

With more people working from home, home offices are becoming an increasingly popular reason to extend. Many people are converting rooms at the front of the house into an office, and redesigning the back of the house as the main living space. As a result, having your audio-visual equipment, plasma screen, lighting and Wi-Fi integrated into the structure is a clever idea.

As with any major decision, plan carefully, look at what others have done, and enjoy the end result for many years to come!