Loft conversions in Dorridge

Before your loft conversion in Dorridge

Before work starts on your loft conversion in Dorridge, two things get checked: whether planning permission from Solihull Council is needed, and how Building Regulations approval will be obtained. If you share a wall with a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply as well.

On a semi or terrace, steel beams bearing on the shared wall need two months' party wall notice.
Mains-powered, interlinked smoke alarms on every floor are part of a compliant loft conversion.
Roof lights can usually go in without planning permission as long as they don't project more than 150 mm from the roof slope.

Postcode district: B93
Planning and building control: Solihull Council
From our West Bromwich base: 14 miles

Options to consider in Dorridge

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.

Roof-light conversion

The simplest option: the roof shape stays the same and roof windows are fitted into the slope. It works when there's already enough head height, keeps costs down, and is often permitted development because roof lights can project up to 150 mm from the roof plane. You do lose some usable floor area under the sloping ceilings.

Guide prices for Dorridge

Expect to budget between £22,000 and £72,000 depending on size and specification in Dorridge. 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.

Before you book in Dorridge

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.

Do you cover Dorridge?

Yes. Dorridge (B93) is about 14 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.

Is my loft suitable for conversion?

Measure from the top of a ceiling joist to the underside of the ridge. Around 2.2 metres or more usually means a conversion is practical; less than that may still work with a dormer or lowered ceilings but costs more. Roof structure matters too, as older cut-timber roofs are simpler to convert than modern trussed roofs, which need more steel. We check all of this at the free survey.

Does Solihull Council need to approve my loft conversion?

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

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Get a guide price for a Dorridge loft conversion online, then a fixed price for the agreed specification once we've seen the roof.