Loft conversions in Shirley

Before your loft conversion in Shirley

In Shirley, 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.

Placing the shower room near the existing soil stack keeps the waste run short and avoids pumped systems.
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: B90
Planning and building control: Solihull Council
From our West Bromwich base: 10 miles

Which options suit homes in Shirley?

Hip-to-gable conversion

On a semi or detached house with a sloping side roof, called a hip, the side slope is rebuilt as a vertical gable wall, making the loft much bigger. It's often combined with a rear dormer. The gable is usually brick or block to match, which adds scaffolding and masonry, but it often creates room for the stair above the existing one.

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.

What does your loft conversion cost in Shirley?

Guide prices start at £22,000 and run to £72,000 depending on size and specification. A rear dormer with a double bedroom and shower room on a three-bed semi: around £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. We confirm a fixed price for the agreed specification after visiting.

Before you book in Shirley

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.

How do I book a survey in Shirley?

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 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.

Who approves loft conversions in Shirley?

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

More services in Shirley

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