Loft conversions in Solihull

What should you know before starting in Solihull?

Planning applications and lawful development certificates for Solihull go to Solihull Council. Many loft conversions fall under permitted development, but not every house keeps those rights — conditions on newer estates, conservation areas and Article 4 directions can remove them. The structural work also needs Building Regulations approval, through the council's building control team or a registered building control approver.

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.
On a semi or terrace, steel beams bearing on the shared wall need two months' party wall notice.

Postcode district: B91
Planning and building control: Solihull Council
From our West Bromwich base: About 12 miles to the centre

Which options suit homes in Solihull?

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.

Guide prices for Solihull

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. Access, parking and the state of what's there now can move the price — the survey settles it.

Before you book in Solihull

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.

Do you cover the whole of Solihull?

Yes — we cover Solihull from our West Bromwich base, including Birmingham, Warwickshire and Sandwell. Call 0800 088 6248 or send the form on this page to book a free survey.

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 Solihull; Building Regulations approval comes from its building control team or a registered building control approver. We'll tell you which applies after the survey.

Loft conversions across Solihull

Pick the nearest place to you:

Loft conversions near Solihull

Other work we do in Solihull

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