Structural alterations in Greater Manchester

Covering Greater Manchester

Our coverage across Greater Manchester includes Manchester, Oldham, Wigan and Bolton.

Homes in the North West

The North West has long rows of Victorian terraced houses in its towns and cities, alongside inter-war semis and post-war estates, so rear extensions, dormer lofts and kitchen extensions are common projects.

What goes into a structural alteration?

Structural alterations change the load-bearing parts of a house, most often removing a wall between two rooms and putting in a steel beam to create an open-plan layout. The work needs a structural engineer’s design and building regulations approval.

Structural engineer’s design and calculations
Building control application and inspections
Temporary works and propping

What will a structural alteration cost?

What structural alterations typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.

Structural alterations	Guide price incl. VAT
Single load-bearing wall removal with steel	£3,000 to £7,500
Chimney breast removal with support	£1,800 to £4,500
Multiple walls or full open-plan remodel	£8,000 to £20,000

What approvals does a structural alteration need in England?

English projects need planning clearance from the local council, building regulations sign-off from building control, and party wall notices where the work is on or near a shared boundary. We prepare and manage all three.

Internal work like this does not usually need planning permission unless the house is listed or your permitted development rights have been removed.

What can affect a structural alteration?

Shared chimney breasts and walls can involve the Party Wall Act.
Removing walls can affect the fire escape route on open-plan ground floors in three-storey houses.

What are the steps?

Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.

Questions about a structural alteration in Greater Manchester

How much does it cost to remove a load-bearing wall?

Usually £3,000 to £7,500 including VAT for a single wall with a steel beam, calculations and making good.

How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?

We check on site and confirm with the structural engineer.

Who deals with the council for a project in Greater Manchester?

We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.

Structural alterations near Greater Manchester

Learn more about structural alterations, or see every project we cover in Greater Manchester.