converting a cellar

[ilovemycats]

Has anyone any experience in converting a cellar which has no windows? It has a "coal hatch" so that coal could be dumped into it from the street, but this is on a pavement covered with a metal plate and people walk on it. The house is also in a conservation area therefore we would be unable to make changes to the front (i.e. take some bricks out at ground level and extend the hole upwards). We would like some natural light. Also we presume that it would be danagerous to make a room there because there is no fire escape? Does anyone have any advice?

[Ethel]

Hugely expensive. It would need to be 'tanked' to be kept dry, ventilated and heated. A fire escape of some sort is essential.

Head height is also a problem - it would probably have to be excavated to make it deep enough with the tanking.

Easily �50,000.

[taurus]

iv done many of these,tanking isnt that dear really.average celler conversion should be10-15000k even if floor needs diggin out