Stairs stud wall

[DIYlizzie]

Attached a pic of my staircase but basically it's a straight staircase with storage built in underneath (new build house, was there when I moved in and is all plasterboarded).

I would like to close off the staircase by removing the banister/spindles and replacing this with a stud wall. Is this possible? Not sure about the terminology but I'm guessing the spindles sit on this sort of half wall and the white bit looks like some skirting... How would I go about doing this project? Would I just remove the skirting/banister and build on top of whatever is underneath currently? Or would it all need to be removed and rebuilt? Thanks

 

[noseall]

Would I just remove the skirting/banister and build on top of whatever is underneath currently? Or would it all need to be removed and rebuilt? Thanks

A stud wall would be positioned abutting the stringer with the plasterboard either abutting the stringer or resting upon it - depending on room. I'd also fill out some of the studs gaps with ply, prior to plaster boarding, so that a hand rail could be fixed with ease.

There would be no longer the need for the newel or the spindles/handrail.