What is a structural alteration?
A structural alteration changes how a house carries its loads, most often by removing a load-bearing wall and replacing it with a steel beam. It is how kitchens and dining rooms become open-plan, and how extensions are joined to the original house.
How much does a structural alteration cost in Lancing?
In Lancing, a structural alteration typically costs £5,000–£10,500 for a typical knock-through with steel beam, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). We start from a UK-wide guide and adjust it for the South East, where labour and materials are typically about 12% above average. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| A typical knock-through with steel beam | £5,000–£10,500 |
| Higher specification | £10,500–£13,000 |
What moves the price most:
- Party wall involvement
- Span of the opening
- Floor and ceiling repairs
- What sits above the wall
Use the guide price tool to see how size and specification change the figure, then ask for a written, itemised quote.
Do you need planning permission for a structural alteration in Lancing?
Before anything is built in Lancing, we confirm which approvals apply in England. In England removing a load-bearing wall does not need planning permission but does need building regulations approval with an engineer’s calculations. If the beam bears on a party wall, a party wall notice must be served.
Where work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building and deeper than its foundations (or within 6 metres for deeper work), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notices must be served before work starts.
At the survey we check your house’s planning history and any restrictions, and tell you which route applies.
What we handle
The work we manage on a structural alteration:
- Structural engineer’s calculations and drawings
- Making good, plastering and flooring repairs
- Building control application
- Party wall notices where needed
- Steel beam supply and installation on padstones
- Building control sign-off
How long does it take?
Expect 1 to 2 weeks on site for a typical knock-through. Before that, surveys, drawings and approvals usually take 6 to 12 weeks, longer if the council asks for changes.
Building in Lancing
The South East has a broad mix of housing, from Victorian terraces in the towns to post-war semis and newer estates, so extension types vary street by street.
If your home is in Lancing or close by in Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing and Portslade, a free home visit is the first step.
How it works
- 01
Free visit
We look at the property, talk through what you want and measure up. There is no charge and no obligation.
- 02
Drawings and written quote
We prepare the design and give you a written, itemised quote with inclusions and exclusions.
- 03
Approvals in place
We handle planning, building control and neighbour notices before work starts.
- 04
Build and sign-off
We run the build to a written programme and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions about structural alterations in Lancing
How long does a knock-through take?
Usually 1 to 2 weeks on site, plus a few days for plastering to dry.
How much does a structural alteration cost in Lancing?
In Lancing, a structural alteration typically costs £5,000–£10,500 for a typical knock-through with steel beam, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
What fire protection does a steel need?
Usually fire-rated plasterboard or intumescent paint, as building control requires.
Do I need a party wall notice?
In England and Wales, if the beam sits in a party wall, yes.
Do you build structural alterations in Lancing?
Yes. We build structural alterations across Lancing, including postcodes BN99. Every project starts with a free home visit.