A loft conversion turns unused roof space into a habitable room such as a bedroom, bathroom or office, with a proper staircase, insulation, fire protection and natural light from rooflights or a dormer.
We offer a loft conversion across West Midlands, and Shirley is one of the places we cover, along with nearby Solihull, Acocks Green and Birmingham. Before anything is agreed we visit, check the existing structure and talk through your options. You then receive a written quote setting out the full scope; for most homes in the West Midlands it sits within £29,500–£64,000 including VAT.
- Guide price
- £29,500–£64,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 6–10 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- B27, B28, B90 and B91
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Solihull
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a loft conversion cost in Shirley?
In Shirley, guide figures for a loft conversion sit at £29,500–£64,000, VAT included. We set them using rates for the West Midlands, currently about 2% below the national guide. The table shows what pushes a project towards either end of the range; your own price is set after a free survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Shirley |
|---|---|---|
| Rooflight conversion | Rooflights in the existing slope, a new floor, staircase and insulation, where head height already works. | £19,500–£34,500 |
| Dormer conversion | A rear dormer adding headroom and floor space, often with a bedroom and shower room. | £31,500–£59,000 |
| Hip-to-gable or mansard | Larger structural changes to the roof for the maximum usable space. | £49,000–£83,000 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Conversion type: rooflight, dormer, hip-to-gable or mansard
- Floor area, existing head height and roof structure
- Steelwork and any strengthening of walls below
- Staircase layout, fire doors and the level of finishes
What’s included?
- Structural calculations and steel beams where needed
- New floor joists strong enough for a habitable room
- Insulation to walls, roof slope and floor
- Fire doors, mains-linked smoke alarms and a protected escape route
- Electrics, heating and plumbing by qualified trades, with certificates
- Plastering, internal doors and building control sign-off
What are homes like around Shirley?
Red-brick Victorian and Edwardian terraces are common in the inner areas of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and the Black Country, ringed by large swathes of 1930s semis with bay windows and hipped roofs. You'll also find post-war council estates, some system-built blocks, Coventry's rebuilt centre and larger detached homes in Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.
1930s semis often suit side and rear extensions, hip-to-gable loft conversions and garage conversions. Victorian terraces tend to need repointing, roof work and replacement windows, and many have room for a side-return extension.
In Shirley, as elsewhere in West Midlands, we take the building's age and construction into account before recommending anything, because both can change what is involved in a loft conversion.
Planning and building rules in Shirley
For anyone in Shirley, the relevant framework is England's. The summary below is general, so we always contact the council about your address before putting a price in writing.
In England, many loft conversions are permitted development: up to 40 m³ of extra roof space on a terraced house and 50 m³ on a semi-detached or detached house, no dormer on the front roof slope facing a road, nothing higher than the existing roof, and similar-looking materials. Conservation areas, listed buildings and flats need planning permission.
Building Regulations approval is always needed for a loft conversion: floor strength, a proper staircase, insulation, fire-protected escape route and smoke alarms. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 usually applies on attached houses.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How does the job run?
A visit to your home
A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price a loft conversion properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.
Price and scope agreed
The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.
Dates and permissions
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
Finish and handover
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a bathroom in my loft?
A bathroom or shower room can usually be added in a loft conversion if waste pipes can reach the soil stack with enough fall, or a pumped system can be used. Dormers make this easier because they give standing height for a shower. Water pressure, extraction and the position of the boiler also matter. We plan the bathroom layout at the design stage so pipes are hidden in the structure.
How much will a loft conversion cost in Shirley?
As a guide, expect to pay £29,500–£64,000 including VAT for a loft conversion in Shirley. That range is adjusted for the West Midlands, which runs about 2% below the national guide. Where your project lands depends on size, materials, access and the condition of what is already there. We confirm a fixed price in writing after a free survey of your home.
Where will the new staircase go?
The new staircase usually sits above the existing stairs, rising from the landing so it uses space that is already circulation. Sometimes it needs to come from a small bedroom or box room, which reduces that room's size. Building regulations set rules on headroom, step size and handrails, with some flexibility for lofts. We look at options at the survey and show you how each affects the floor below.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
Does the Party Wall Act apply to a loft conversion?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England and Wales only, and loft conversions on terraced and semi-detached houses often fall within it, because steel beams are usually set into the shared wall. You must serve notice on the neighbour before work starts, and they can agree or appoint a surveyor. Scotland and Northern Ireland have no equivalent Act. We tell you during the survey whether notices are likely.
Near Shirley
We welcome enquiries from all B27, B28, B90 and B91 postcodes in Shirley, plus Solihull, Acocks Green and Birmingham. Each one gets the same survey at no charge and a written price fixed for the work described.