Loft conversions in Olton

Before your loft conversion in Olton

In Olton, 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.

Roof lights can usually go in without planning permission as long as they don't project more than 150 mm from the roof slope.
Permitted development allows up to 40 m³ of extra roof volume on a terraced house and 50 m³ on other houses.
The new staircase usually needs 2 metres of headroom, with a little leeway allowed for loft conversions.

Postcode district: B92
Planning and building control: Solihull Council
From our West Bromwich base: 10 miles

Choices to weigh up in Olton

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.

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.

What does your loft conversion cost in Olton?

Prices in Olton match the rest of our area: £22,000–£72,000 depending on size and specification. A rear dormer with a double bedroom and shower room on a three-bed semi: usually £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. Access, parking and the state of what's there now can move the price — the survey settles it.

Loft conversions in Olton: common questions

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.

How do I book a survey in Olton?

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.

Will I lose space on the landing?

Usually very little, because the new staircase normally sits above the existing one. Sometimes part of a box room or a cupboard is used to fit the stair in, especially where head height is tight. We show you exactly where the stair lands on the drawings before you agree to anything, because its position decides how both floors work.

Who approves loft conversions in Olton?

Usually building control, and sometimes planning. Solihull Council is the planning authority for Olton; 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 Olton

Other work we do in Olton

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