Скачать или смотреть 1930s Semi Extension Birmingham: Kitchen Diner with Flat Roof & Rooflight

Thinking of extending your 1930s semi in Birmingham or Solihull? Here's a project where we opened up a dark, disconnected kitchen into a full-width rear extension with flat roof and rooflight - and used a split planning strategy to make it happen faster.

🏡 From Cramped Kitchen to Open-Plan Living
This Birmingham family faced the classic 1930s semi problem: fragmented layout with a cramped kitchen cut off from family life. The original setup had them cooking in isolation, eating away from natural light, and barely using their garden because access was awkward through a narrow door.

Our solution created one flowing kitchen diner extension that connects directly to the garden. The full-height glazing and French doors open onto a new patio area, whilst a large flat-panel rooflight floods the space with natural light all day. What this means practically is breakfast happens naturally whilst getting children ready for school, and the dining area stays bright even when Birmingham weather keeps the doors closed.

📐 How We Navigated Planning Rules in Birmingham
In Birmingham and Solihull, extending 1930s semis means working around bay window constraints whilst addressing neighbour concerns about overlooking. We found a solution that split the extension into two coordinated parts - permitted development rights for half the width, then a householder planning application for the remaining half.

This split application approach meant we could start the permitted development work whilst the full planning application was being processed.
The planning process in Birmingham typically takes 8-12 weeks, but here's what actually happens during that time: the council checks your plans against local policies, neighbours get their say, and sometimes small adjustments are needed based on feedback.

Our 3D walkthrough and VR visualisation let this family see exactly where their dining table would go and how natural light would move through the space before we submitted any applications. These aren't just pretty pictures - they're decision tools that help you understand what you're actually getting.

💡 Why the Rooflight and Canopy Made the Difference
The large rooflight pulls daylight deep into the centre of the floorplan, keeping the kitchen island and dining area bright throughout the day. The black-edged canopy over the patio includes recessed downlighters, creating a sheltered transition that works even in changeable weather.

From what I've seen with similar projects across Birmingham and Solihull, planning officers mainly want to ensure the design respects existing street character whilst addressing privacy concerns. Our approach kept the extension sympathetic to the original roof lines whilst clearly defining it as a contemporary addition.

🔍 What This Means for Your Project
The end result gives this family exactly what modern life in a 1930s house needs - one flowing space where family life actually happens. Children do homework at the island whilst dinner is prepared, the dining area connects naturally to both cooking and garden, and outdoor space feels like part of the house rather than a separate afterthought.

If you're considering something similar, the thing that often catches people out in Birmingham and Solihull is understanding which parts can use permitted development rights and which need full planning permission. Getting this split right can save months in the process.

We provided complete planning drawings, building regulations drawings, and 3D visualisation throughout. The building regulations side was straightforward - proper foundations, insulation, and ventilation for the new open-plan space. Because we'd worked out all structural requirements during design, there were no surprises during construction.

The project shows how the right planning strategy, combined with design that actually works for family life, can completely change how you live in your 1930s semi. From dark kitchen to bright open plan, from disconnected rooms to flowing family space - it's what these houses can become with the right approach.

Happy to chat through your specific situation if you're thinking about something similar - every 1930s semi in Birmingham and Solihull has its own particular challenges, but the principles of creating better family spaces whilst respecting planning requirements remain consistent.

📞 Visit https://www.mcternandesign.co.uk to explore how this approach might work for your next project

📧 [email protected] | 📱 07955 572811

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