House renovations in Shirley

Planning your renovation in Shirley

Work inside your Shirley home isn't development, so planning permission doesn't apply — the exception is a listed building, where Solihull Council would need to give listed building consent. Structural work, new electrics and drainage changes come under Building Regulations.

Fitting the kitchen and bathroom after plastering is finished protects them from damage and dust.
A house that's been empty for two years or more may qualify for 5% VAT on renovation work where VAT is charged.
Setting aside a contingency of around 10% is sensible on older houses, where hidden problems are common.

Postcode district: B90
Planning and building control: Solihull Council
From our West Bromwich base: 10 miles

Options to consider in Shirley

Phased renovation

When budget or living arrangements don't allow everything at once, we plan the whole house first and then build in phases. Rewiring and any structural work usually come first, because they affect every room, while kitchens, bathrooms and decoration follow later without anything having to be undone.

Refresh: rewire, re-plaster and redecorate

For a house with a sound kitchen and bathroom but dated electrics and tired walls. The rewire happens first, then walls and ceilings are skimmed or re-plastered, and the house is ready for decoration. It's the lightest whole-house option, and the one where living at home is most practical.

How much should you budget in Shirley?

Guide prices start at £18,000 and run to £130,000 depending on size and specification. Full refurbishment of a three-bed semi: rewire, re-plaster, heating, kitchen and bathroom: around £50,000–£68,000.

Guide prices for house renovations
Option	Guide price	Good to know
Refresh: rewire, re-plaster and decorate prep	£18,000 – £32,000	Kitchen and bathroom kept
Full refurbishment	£45,000 – £75,000	The usual scope on a three-bed semi
Renovation with layout and structural changes	£75,000 – £130,000	Steels, moved rooms, more trades and a longer programme

Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. Your fixed price for the agreed specification follows a free survey at your Shirley address.

Before you book in Shirley

What happens if you find problems once walls are opened?

We stop, show you, and price the extra work in writing before doing it. Common finds in older homes include damp, rotten joists, old lead water pipes and wiring hidden behind plaster. Your quote is a fixed price for the agreed specification, and nothing outside it is added without your written agreement. We also point out at the survey anything we suspect but can't yet confirm.

Do you cover Shirley?

Yes. Shirley (B90) is about 10 miles from our West Bromwich base and inside the area we cover. Call 0800 088 6248 or send the form on this page to book a free survey.

How much does a full house renovation cost in the West Midlands?

Guide prices run from about £18,000 for a rewire and re-plaster up to around £130,000 for a renovation with structural layout changes, including VAT where it applies. A full refurbishment of a three-bed semi, with rewire, re-plaster, heating work, a new kitchen and bathroom, typically costs £50,000–£68,000. Your itemised quote breaks the price down by room and trade.

Does Solihull Council need to approve my renovation?

Not for planning — internal work isn't development unless the house is listed. Building Regulations approval is needed for structural work such as removing a load-bearing wall, through Solihull Council or a registered building control approver.

Also covering nearby

Other work we do in Shirley

Get a rough guide price for your Shirley renovation online, then a fixed price for the agreed specification after the survey.