Guides
Guides and advice for London homeowners
Plain-English guides to planning, regulations and preparing for building work.
Guides and advice on Extensions
Extensions
Building Regulations for a house extension: what building control checks
Almost every extension needs Building Regulations approval, whether or not it needs planning permission. Here is what is checked and when inspections happen.
Rear extensions and permitted development: size limits and prior approval
Many single-storey rear extensions can be built without a planning application. Here are the main size limits, what prior approval adds, and when the rules do not apply.
Side-return extensions: what they are and whether they suit your house
A side-return extension fills the narrow passage beside the back of a terraced or semi-detached house. This guide covers what to check first.
How long does a house extension take, from quote to completion?
A rough timeline for a typical extension, from the first conversation to moving back into a finished room, and what can lengthen it.
What affects the cost of a house extension?
We do not publish generic price-per-square-metre figures because they vary so much. Here is what actually drives the cost of an extension up or down.
House extension types explained: rear, side-return and wrap-around
Rear, side-return, wrap-around and double-storey: what each type of house extension is and what to think about before choosing.
Guides and advice on New Builds
New Builds
Planning a new build home: what to have in place before work starts
A new build starts long before the first day on site. Here is what normally needs to be in place: consents, drawings, utilities and the people involved.
Guides and advice on Refurbishments
Refurbishments
Removing a wall: structural alterations explained
Opening up a layout often means taking out a wall. Here is how load-bearing and partition walls differ, and what approvals and design a structural change needs.
Refurbishing a flat in London: what leaseholders should check first
Before a flat refurbishment starts, leaseholders usually need to check their lease, get the landlord’s consent and agree access arrangements.
Guides and advice on Loft Conversions
Loft Conversions
A loft conversion stage by stage: what happens and in what order
From the first survey to the completion certificate, here is the usual order of a loft conversion, so you know what is happening and what decisions are coming.
Loft conversions in flats: lease, planning and consent
A loft conversion in a flat is more complicated than in a house. Here is why planning permission and the freeholder’s consent usually come first.
Building Regulations for a loft conversion: what building control checks
Every loft conversion in England needs Building Regulations approval, even when planning permission is not required. Here is what is checked.
How much does a loft conversion cost in London? What affects the price
Loft conversion prices vary widely. This guide explains what drives the cost in London and how to compare quotes properly.
Do you need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Many loft conversions in England fall within permitted development, but not all. Here is what usually decides it.
Loft conversion types: dormer, hip-to-gable, mansard and rooflight
The four main kinds of loft conversion and how the shape of your roof, your headroom and your budget affect the choice.
Guides and advice on Commercial Construction
Commercial Construction
Shop and office fit-out: consents to arrange before building work
Fitting out a shop, office or restaurant involves more than the building work. Here are the landlord, regulatory and fire safety points to settle first.
Planning, permissions and choosing a builder
Do you need a structural engineer for building work?
Removing a wall, adding steel beams or converting a loft usually needs an engineer’s calculations. Here is when, what the engineer does, and how it fits with architects and builders.
Lawful development certificates: proving your work is permitted
A lawful development certificate is the council’s written confirmation that proposed work does not need planning permission. Here is what it is, when it helps, and what it does not cover.
How to choose a builder in London: questions to ask before you hire
A short list of practical questions to ask any builder before you sign anything, and what a straightforward answer should sound like.
Conservation areas and Article 4 directions: what they mean for your project
Large parts of London sit within conservation areas, and some have an Article 4 direction on top. Here is what that changes for building work.
Permitted development rights explained
Permitted development lets you carry out some building work without a planning application. Here is what it covers and where it stops.
Planning permission or Building Regulations: what is the difference?
They sound similar but do different jobs, and one does not replace the other. Here is how they differ.
Party wall agreements: what they are and when they apply
If your building work affects a wall you share with a neighbour, you may need to give notice first. Here are the basics.
What to have ready before you ask a builder for a quote
A few details make it much easier for a builder to give you an accurate quote. Here is a simple checklist.
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