A new shop front is one of the bigger one-off costs a Birmingham business faces, and prices vary more than most owners expect. This guide sets out realistic ranges for the common types, explains what moves the figure up or down, and flags the local planning points that catch people out.
Most single units on a Birmingham high street have a frontage of around 4 to 6 metres, whether that is Soho Road, Stratford Road or Kings Heath High Street. For that size, a supplied and fitted shop front usually falls somewhere between £3,000 and £10,000 before VAT. The spread comes down mainly to material, glass and door choice.
As a rough guide for a standard single frontage:
Size is the biggest factor. A double unit, a corner plot with a return window, or a frontage over 3 metres high needs more metal, more glass and more labour. These are ballpark figures, not quotes, and an unusual opening can sit well outside them.
Glass specification matters too. Toughened safety glass is the minimum for doors and low-level panes. Laminated glass costs more but holds together when struck, which is worth considering if you are not fitting a shutter. A manual hinged door is the cheapest option, while an automatic sliding door can add £2,500 to £5,000. Standard powder coat colours such as black, grey and white are normally included, with special colours costing a little extra.
The hidden cost is usually the building itself. Removing and disposing of the old frontage tends to add a few hundred pounds. If the beam above the opening is in poor condition, or you want to widen the opening, a structural engineer and new steelwork can add thousands. Older Victorian terraces in areas like Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter are the most likely to produce surprises such as rotten timber beams and uneven floors.
Many owners fit a roller shutter at the same time. For a standard frontage, expect roughly £800 to £1,500 for a manual shutter and £1,200 to £3,000 for an electric one, depending on width, lath type and security rating.
Replacing a shop front usually needs planning permission from Birmingham City Council because it changes the external appearance of the building. A genuine like-for-like repair may not. Allow a few hundred pounds for the application fee, plus the cost of drawings, and around eight weeks for a decision.
The council's shopfront design guidance discourages solid external shutters that leave a blank wall of steel at night. Perforated, grille or internal shutters are generally easier to get approved. In conservation areas such as the Jewellery Quarter, Moseley and Bournville, expect closer scrutiny of materials and proportions. Illuminated signs may need separate advertisement consent.
A reliable price needs a site survey, not a photo and a guess. Ask for an itemised quote so you can compare like with like, and check exactly what is covered. Fitting outside trading hours is often possible but may cost more, so say early if you need it.
A standard aluminium shop front normally takes one to two days on site, following two to four weeks of manufacture after the survey. Timber frontages, structural work or a planning application will lengthen the overall timescale.
In most cases yes, because a new frontage alters the appearance of the building, and rules are tighter in conservation areas. Check with Birmingham City Council before you order anything, as work done without consent can be subject to enforcement.
For most shops it is the most cost-effective choice, as it is strong, low maintenance and quick to manufacture. Frameless glass and timber usually cost more, though timber may be the only material acceptable on some traditional frontages.