Loft conversions in Balsall Common

Planning your loft conversion in Balsall Common

In Balsall Common, Solihull Council decides planning questions. We check permitted development limits and any local restrictions at the survey, then deal with the Building Regulations side so you receive a completion certificate when the work is signed off.

A dormer on the roof slope facing the street, or one that rises above the ridge, needs a planning application.
The new staircase usually needs 2 metres of headroom, with a little leeway allowed for loft conversions.
Permitted development allows up to 40 m³ of extra roof volume on a terraced house and 50 m³ on other houses.

Postcode district: CV7
Planning and building control: Solihull Council
From our West Bromwich base: 17 miles

Which option fits your home?

Rear dormer conversion

A box-shaped extension built out from the rear roof slope, with vertical walls and a flat roof, giving full standing height across most of the room. It suits semis and terraces because it adds the most usable space for the money. Under permitted development it must be set back from the eaves and stay within the volume allowance.

Mansard conversion

The rear roof slope is rebuilt almost vertically, at around 70 degrees, with a flat top and windows set into it. It gives the most space but changes the roof shape significantly, so it normally needs a planning application. It can suit terraces where a dormer would be too limited, and it's the most expensive of the common types.

Guide prices for Balsall Common

Expect to budget between £22,000 and £72,000 depending on size and specification in Balsall Common. A rear dormer with a double bedroom and shower room on a three-bed semi: typically £42,000–£52,000.

Guide prices for loft conversions
Option	Guide price	Good to know
Roof-light conversion	£22,000 – £32,000	One room, no change to the roof shape
Rear dormer	£38,000 – £55,000	Bedroom and shower room; a good fit for semis and terraces
Hip-to-gable with rear dormer	£48,000 – £68,000	Most usable space; semis and detached houses

Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. A free survey turns this guide into a fixed, itemised price.

Loft conversions in Balsall Common: common questions

How much does a loft conversion cost in the West Midlands?

Guide prices run from about £22,000 for a simple roof-light conversion to around £72,000 for a large hip-to-gable or mansard, including VAT where it applies. A rear dormer with a double bedroom and shower room on a three-bed semi typically costs £42,000–£52,000. Flooring, decorating and fitted wardrobes are extra. Your fixed price for the agreed specification follows the free survey.

How do I book a survey in Balsall Common?

Send the form on this page, use the guide-price tool or call 0800 088 6248 free. We'll ask a few questions about your loft conversion and arrange a time to visit.

How long does a loft conversion take?

Most take 6–10 weeks on site, with roof-light conversions at the shorter end and hip-to-gable or mansard work at the longer end. Allow time beforehand for drawings, a lawful development certificate or planning decision, and party wall notices, which need two months on a semi or terrace. We plan the start date around those periods so nothing is left waiting.

Does Solihull Council need to approve my loft conversion?

Usually building control, and sometimes planning. Solihull Council is the planning authority for Balsall Common; Building Regulations approval comes from its building control team or a registered building control approver. We'll tell you which applies after the survey.

Close to Balsall Common

Other home improvements in Balsall Common

Ring 0800 088 6248 to talk through your loft, or send your postcode and we'll arrange a visit.