Knock-through walls in Aston: approvals and local details
Internal alterations in Aston don't need planning permission unless the house is listed. Removing or altering a load-bearing wall does need Building Regulations approval, through Birmingham City Council's building control team or a registered building control approver, and a party wall may bring in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
- Steel beams usually take one to two weeks to make once the calculations are approved.
- Textured ceilings applied before 2000 should be tested for asbestos before they're cut or disturbed.
- Keeping a short section of wall at each end can mean a smaller steel and a lower cost.
- Postcode district
- B6
- Planning and building control
- Birmingham City Council
- From our West Bromwich base
- 5 miles
Which option fits your home?
Kitchen into dining room
A very common knock-through in older houses, creating one sociable room for cooking and eating. It often goes alongside a new kitchen, so the steel position, lighting and sockets are planned with the kitchen layout in mind. Radiators and doors may move to make the most of the longer wall space.
Non-load-bearing partition removal
Stud or thin block partitions that carry no weight can be removed without steel, once we've confirmed what's above. The work is mostly making good: patching the ceiling and walls, filling the floor where the wall stood, and moving any sockets or switches. It's the quickest and cheapest kind of knock-through.
What does your knock-through cost in Aston?
Guide prices start at £1,200 and run to £14,000 depending on size and specification. Opening up a 3.5 m load-bearing wall between kitchen and dining room in a semi: around £4,500–£6,800.
| Option | Guide price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Non-load-bearing wall removed | £1,200 – £2,800 | No steel, mostly making good |
| Load-bearing wall with steel beam (up to about 4 m) | £3,800 – £7,500 | The usual kitchen-diner or through-lounge |
| Wide span, chimney breast or multiple steels | £7,500 – £14,000 | Bigger steels, more propping and making good |
Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. Your fixed price for the agreed specification follows a free survey at your Aston address.
Knock-through walls in Aston: common questions
Should I do the knock-through before a new kitchen?
Yes, the structural work comes first, but plan both together. Knowing the kitchen layout tells us where the steel can sit, where lights and sockets should go, and whether radiators need to move. Doing the wall and kitchen as one project avoids re-plastering twice and means the floor can run through in one go.
Do you cover Aston?
Yes. Aston (B6) is about 5 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 it cost to knock through a wall?
In the West Midlands, a knock-through typically costs £1,200–£14,000 including VAT where it applies. Removing a non-load-bearing partition is usually £1,200–£2,800. Opening a load-bearing wall of about 3.5 metres between a kitchen and dining room, with an engineer-designed steel, building control and re-plastering, is typically £4,500–£6,800. Decorating and new flooring across both rooms are usually extra.
Does Birmingham City Council need to approve my knock-through?
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 Birmingham City Council or a registered building control approver.
Close to Aston
- Knock-through walls in Perry Barr
- Knock-through walls in Hodge Hill
- Knock-through walls in Handsworth
- Knock-through walls in Kingstanding
Other work we do in Aston
- Garage conversions in Aston
- Loft conversions in Aston
- Double-storey extensions in Aston
- Conservatories in Aston
- Kitchen fitting in Aston
- Flat roofing in Aston
Planning a new kitchen too? Tell us both jobs and we'll quote them together, so the steel and the layout fit.
