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We deliver Knightsbridge full refurbishment with architects, engineers, surveyors and builders under one fixed-price contract - design, technical coordination, procurement, directly managed site teams, Building Control, programme control and final handover through one accountable team.
This is our broadest refurbishment service in Knightsbridge. It covers structural alterations, complete M&E replacement, new kitchens and bathrooms, joinery, flooring, and decoration in one coordinated programme — with a single project manager as your point of contact throughout. Fixed price, weekly progress reports, and a 10-year structural guarantee on completion. Knightsbridge properties typically include Regency townhouses, estate-owned terraces, prime mansion blocks.
International luxury quarter between Hyde Park and South Kensington. Mix of grand period buildings and modern luxury developments. Split between Westminster and RBKC. A full refurbishment in Knightsbridge typically involves stripping the property back to its structural shell, upgrading mechanical and electrical services, reconfiguring layouts, and finishing to the highest standard — all while preserving and restoring original period features.
Our Knightsbridge refurbishment projects are managed through a single point of contact, coordinating architects, structural engineers, M&E specialists, and specialist subcontractors. We work within Westminster's planning and building control requirements to deliver on time and on budget.
Every project is delivered by our directly-employed teams — no subcontractors, no surprises, no hidden costs.
Complete renovation of Knightsbridge townhouses and period homes. Structural work, full rewire, replumb, and luxury finishes throughout.
View details →Mansion block and period conversion specialists. We handle freeholder consent, Party Wall compliance, and communal area management.
View details →Bespoke kitchen design and installation. Custom cabinetry, premium appliances, and finishes tailored to your property.
View details →Luxury bathroom design with underfloor heating, walk-in showers, freestanding baths, and natural stone finishes.
View details →Strip it back, reimagine it, rebuild it beautifully. Our full refurbishment service takes a tired or dated London home and transforms every room — reconfiguring layouts, upgrading all services, installing new kitchens and bathrooms and delivering a cohesive interior design that unifies the entire property. One team, one contract, one vision.
Knightsbridge SW1 ranges from red-brick mansion blocks to grand townhouses shaped by the historic Hans Town development, and a full refurbishment here is a prime-spec, whole-property transformation of structure, services and interiors. Our architectural design and structural engineering teams lead the design so layout, structure and services are resolved together under one fixed-price process.
Refurbishment works fall under Westminster, and where the property is listed or in a conservation area, alterations to protected fabric can require listed building consent. We establish the relevant designations at feasibility and run the planning and conservation consents in parallel with the build.
A full refurbishment touches structure throughout — openings, beams and often a basement or loft — so works to shared structures engage the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, and the programme is sequenced from strip-out through first fix, plaster, second fix and fit-out. See our Knightsbridge work or book a consultation.
A whole-house refurbishment in SW1X is shaped as much by permission as by construction. Knightsbridge is prime townhouse and mansion-flat territory, and its Regency and Victorian houses around Lowndes Square, Cadogan Place, Wilton Place and Montpelier Square are largely listed, largely leasehold and, in many cases, held on estate terms. Consent strategy therefore leads a project here rather than trailing behind it.
On a townhouse the work is conservation-led restoration. Stucco, stone and joinery are repaired to authentic detail while everything behind them is renewed to modern standards, and a plan laid out for a very different household is reworked so circulation, bathrooms and service rooms suit the way the house is actually lived in. What the Knightsbridge Conservation Area exists to protect stays; what has been added carelessly over the years usually does not.
In the prime mansion flats the emphasis shifts. Structure, acoustic separation from neighbouring homes and freeholder or estate consents are handled as one exercise, alongside the Licence to Alter that a substantive alteration to a leasehold flat requires. Where a scheme reaches below ground, RBKC basement policy, underpinning design and waterproofing set the programme long before any finish is chosen.
Across both kinds of building the constant is scrutiny. Kensington and Chelsea examines external change closely, Article 4 controls narrow what can be done without an application, and neighbours are immediate and high-value, so party wall awards are arranged early rather than discovered late.
A full refurbishment goes far deeper than new paint and replacement kitchens. It addresses everything behind the walls — rewiring electrical systems that haven't been updated since the 1960s, replacing lead plumbing with copper and plastic, insulating solid walls that leak heat through every brick, and reconfiguring floor plans designed for a Victorian household with live-in servants, not a contemporary family.
Our approach starts with the layout. Before selecting a single tile or paint colour, our architects redesign the floor plan — opening up cramped ground floors, relocating bathrooms, creating en-suites, adding utility rooms, improving circulation and sight-lines, and ensuring every square metre works harder.
Once the layout is resolved, our interior designers develop a cohesive design language that runs through every room — material palettes, joinery profiles, ironmongery, lighting schemes, tile specifications and colour stories developed as a unified whole. The result is a home that feels intentional throughout.
Every refurbishment is delivered under a single fixed-price contract covering design, structural alterations, full M&E, kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, joinery, decoration and all finishes. We don't quote for building work then add extras for interiors — it's all one price.
A full refurbishment touches every element of your home.
Removing and repositioning internal walls, creating open-plan spaces, adding en-suites, reconfiguring staircases and improving circulation. Our architects redesign the entire floor plan before a single trade enters the building.
Complete consumer unit replacement, new circuits, contemporary socket layouts with USB charging, dimmer circuits, smart home pre-wiring and lighting design circuits. Certified to BS 7671 18th Edition.
Full replumb replacing lead pipework. New condensing boiler or heat pump, radiator upgrade or underfloor heating, pressurised hot water systems and new waste connections.
Bespoke kitchen design with premium cabinetry and appliances. Bathroom fit-outs with wall-hung sanitary ware, walk-in showers, freestanding baths and underfloor heating.
Engineered oak, natural stone, porcelain, encaustic tile — specified room by room. Bespoke skirting, architraves, wardrobes, bookcases, window seats and alcove units designed to the property's character.
Architectural lighting schemes layering ambient, task and accent lighting. Smart control (Lutron, Rako), multi-room audio pre-wiring, automated blinds and centralised home control.
Knightsbridge is prime townhouse and mansion-flat territory, and room-by-room work splits along those two lines. In the Regency and Victorian houses around Lowndes Square, Cadogan Place, Wilton Place and Montpelier Square, schemes tend to run whole-house: grand stuccoed and red-brick frontages restored with authentic stucco, joinery and stone detail, while the plan is reworked floor by floor behind them. Lower-ground levels carry most of the engineering, because many SW1X schemes involve basements — waterproofing, underpinning and party-wall risk have to be led carefully rather than treated as one more room.
In the prime mansion flats the constraints are different:
Across both stock types the neighbours are close and high-value, so party-wall awards shape the running order of the rooms as much as the design does.
Every room in a full refurbishment has its own technical requirements, specification decisions and sequencing considerations. Here is what is involved in each.
A full kitchen refurbishment begins with complete strip-out of existing units, flooring, wall finishes, electrics and plumbing. The space is then rewired with dedicated circuits for oven, hob, extraction, fridge-freezer and dishwasher, plus general socket circuits with USB provision. Plumbing is re-run in copper and plastic to new locations. The layout is redesigned for workflow efficiency — our kitchen designers follow the work-triangle principle while adapting to the specific proportions of your room. New installations include bespoke or premium cabinetry, stone or composite worktops, integrated appliances, feature lighting (under-cabinet, pendant, recessed), splashback tiling or glass, and engineered timber or stone flooring. Extraction is ducted to the outside. Underfloor heating is fitted beneath the finished floor.
Bathrooms require the most intensive waterproofing of any room in the house. We strip out all existing fittings, tiles and substrate, then apply tanking membrane to all wet areas (shower enclosures, bath surrounds, floors) before tiling. Underfloor heating is installed beneath porcelain or natural stone tiles. Plumbing is re-run to accommodate the new layout, often including relocation of waste stacks and soil pipes. Sanitaryware selection includes wall-hung WCs (for easier cleaning and a more spacious feel), freestanding or built-in baths, walk-in or wetroom showers with frameless glass enclosures, and twin basin vanity units. Heated towel rails, anti-mist mirrors, recessed LED lighting and extractor fans complete the specification.
Living rooms and reception rooms often involve structural alterations — removing load-bearing walls to create open-plan spaces, installing steel beams to support the floor above, and widening doorways to improve flow between rooms. Flooring is selected for acoustics and durability: engineered oak, natural stone or high-quality LVT. Lighting design layers ambient (recessed downlights or pendant fittings), task (reading lamps, desk lighting) and accent (picture lights, LED strips, uplighters) circuits on separate dimmer controls. Bespoke joinery — alcove shelving, window seats, media walls, fireplace surrounds — is designed to the proportions of each room. Walls are re-plastered to a smooth finish, and period features (cornicing, ceiling roses, dado rails) are restored or replicated where appropriate.
Bedroom refurbishment focuses on creating calm, well-organised spaces. Built-in wardrobes are designed floor-to-ceiling with internal fittings (hanging rails, shelving, drawers, shoe racks, lighting) tailored to how you dress. Acoustic insulation is installed in party walls and floors — particularly important in converted flats and terraced properties — using acoustic mineral wool and resilient bars to achieve meaningful sound reduction. Windows are overhauled or replaced: secondary glazing for listed properties, slim-profile double glazing for conservation areas, or high-performance triple glazing where planning allows. Blackout blinds, layered lighting (bedside, wardrobe, ambient) and smart controls complete a restful environment.
The hallway sets the tone for the entire house. In period properties, we restore original encaustic or geometric floor tiles, repair and French-polish timber balustrades, rebuild newel posts and reinstate panelled wainscoting or dado rails. Where the original features have been lost, we commission faithful reproductions from specialist joiners. Stair treads are repaired and finished in matching timber, with runners fitted for noise reduction and grip. Lighting is critical: a combination of pendant or lantern fittings, wall sconces and recessed lighting creates depth and warmth. Storage is built into dead space beneath staircases. Doorbells, entry systems, coat hooks, shoe storage and radiator covers are all specified as part of the design.
A dedicated utility room is one of the most requested additions in a full refurbishment. We create space for washing machine, tumble dryer (or washer-dryer), sink, drying rack, ironing station and cleaning supply storage. Plumbing and extraction are run to the utility room during first fix. Where space permits, a separate pantry with open shelving, cold storage and counter space significantly improves kitchen functionality. Plant rooms house the boiler (or heat pump indoor unit), hot water cylinder, consumer unit and any home automation hardware — keeping services accessible for maintenance while hidden from living spaces. Every cupboard and storage area is fitted with lighting and considered as part of the overall design.
In most of London the refurbish-or-rebuild question is genuinely open. In Knightsbridge it rarely is. Almost all of the stock in SW1X sits inside the Knightsbridge Conservation Area, much of it listed, and the Cadogan and other estates hold much of the land beneath it. Clearing a stuccoed terrace on Lowndes Square or a Regency house on Montpelier Square is not a realistic starting point, and Article 4 controls remove even the small permitted-development freedoms owners rely on in less protected boroughs.
Why refurbishment is almost always the route here
Where the ambition goes instead
Because the envelope is effectively fixed, extra capacity in Knightsbridge is found downwards or inwards. A basement is the one route that genuinely adds floor area, and it is governed by RBKC strict basement policy, with underpinning, waterproofing and structural design driving both risk and programme. Inside, internal structural alteration, re-planned services and acoustic build-ups do the work that a rebuild would have done somewhere else.
Approvals and engineering, rather than demolition, are the dominant levers on a Knightsbridge scheme. Deciding early which route the building can actually support — and confirming it with the borough, the estate and the adjoining owners — is what keeps the rest of the programme honest.
Not every property is best served by refurbishment. Here is how to decide whether to refurbish the existing structure or demolish and rebuild.
Refurbishment is the right choice when the existing structure is fundamentally sound — solid walls, stable foundations, a serviceable roof. It is also the preferred route when the property has period features worth preserving (original cornicing, ceiling roses, fireplaces, panelled doors, timber floors), when planning restrictions make demolition difficult or impossible (listed buildings, conservation areas), or when budget constraints favour working with the existing shell rather than starting from scratch. Most London period properties — Victorian terraces, Georgian townhouses, Edwardian semis — fall firmly into the refurbishment category.
Demolition and rebuild is justified when the existing structure has significant defects — severe subsidence, failed foundations, widespread dry rot affecting the structural timber, or extensive asbestos contamination that makes strip-out more expensive than demolition. It may also make sense when the desired layout is so radically different from the existing building that the structural alterations required would cost more than rebuilding. In some cases, a Whole Energy Retrofit analysis may show that the existing building fabric is so thermally poor that a new build to current standards offers better long-term value.
A comprehensive refurbishment typically costs £650–£1,250/sqm depending on specification level. A demolition and rebuild (excluding land value) costs substantially more per square metre. However, the rebuild figure includes foundations, superstructure, roof, external walls and all services — elements that already exist in a refurbishment. The decision should be made on a case-by-case basis following a thorough structural survey. We provide honest advice on which route offers the best outcome for your specific property.
The order of work on a Knightsbridge refurbishment is dictated by permissions as much as by trades. With so much of SW1X listed, estate-held and inside the conservation area, a sequence that would be perfectly sensible in an unprotected borough can bring a project to a halt here.
1. Establish what may be altered — Listed status, conservation-area boundaries and Article 4 controls are confirmed first, together with the Kensington and Chelsea position on any change visible from the street. Where the building is leasehold or estate-held, the Licence to Alter and estate or freeholder consent are pursued in parallel with planning and Building Regulations, because none of them stands in for another.
2. Survey and serve party wall notices — Terraces on Lowndes Square and Cadogan Place share structure with immediate neighbours, and flats in the mansion blocks share it in every direction. Schedules of condition are recorded and party wall awards agreed before excavation, underpinning or steelwork is programmed.
3. Strip out under protection — Removal is selective, not wholesale. Cornices, chimneypieces, panelled doors, shutters and original joinery are recorded and protected in place, and only later fabric comes away. Opening up at this stage exposes historic movement, damp and previous alterations while there is still time to redesign around them.
4. Structure and below ground — Temporary support, underpinning and steelwork follow. Where the scheme includes a basement, RBKC policy governs what can be excavated and the waterproofing strategy is fixed now rather than improvised once the slab is down. On most Knightsbridge houses this is the stage that carries the programme risk.
5. First fix and acoustic separation — Services are routed through fabric that will not tolerate arbitrary chasing, so runs are planned around retained plasterwork and joinery. In a mansion flat, floor and separating-wall acoustic build-ups go in at this point; they cannot be added convincingly once the finishes are on.
6. Envelope repair — External stucco, stone and window joinery are repaired to conservation standard while access is still up. Completing this in one visit avoids a second round of scaffolding, a second conversation with the borough and a second disruption for the neighbours.
7. Plaster, second fix and finishes — Wet trades first, then joinery, ironmongery, lighting and decoration. Specification in Knightsbridge is exacting, and the finishing trades need clean, dry, settled surfaces to work into, which is why they follow the structural stages instead of overlapping them.
8. Close out every consent — Building control sign-off is only part of it. Party wall matters are settled with each adjoining owner, and the freeholder or estate receives the completion evidence its consent asked for. A project here is not finished until the paperwork that allowed it to begin has been discharged.
The order in which trades enter the building is critical. Getting the sequence wrong causes delays, rework and damage to finished surfaces. Here is the correct order and why it matters.
Everything that is being replaced is removed: kitchens, bathrooms, floor coverings, old plaster, redundant electrics and plumbing, partition walls. The building is taken back to its structural shell. This reveals the true condition of the property — hidden damp, rotten timbers, failed lintels, asbestos — allowing problems to be addressed before new work begins. Skipping a thorough strip-out is the most common cause of cost overruns, because defects discovered after new work has started require expensive rework.
Load-bearing walls are removed and steel beams installed. Floors are strengthened, lintels replaced, timber joists sistered or renewed. Any underpinning, foundation work or damp-proofing is completed at this stage. Structural work must be finished and signed off by building control before first fix begins, because the building must be structurally stable before services are installed within it.
New electrical cables are run to every socket, switch, light fitting and appliance position. Plumbing pipes are run to every tap, WC, bath, shower, washing machine and boiler location. Heating pipework (radiators or underfloor) is laid. Ventilation ductwork is installed. First fix happens before plastering because all cables and pipes need to be concealed within the walls and floors. Getting the positions right at this stage is critical — moving a socket after plastering means cutting out plaster, re-routing cable and re-plastering.
Walls and ceilings are plastered to a smooth finish over the first-fix services. This creates the final surface for decoration and must be done to a high standard — imperfections in plaster are visible through paint. Plaster must dry thoroughly (typically 2–4 weeks depending on season and ventilation) before decoration begins. Rushing this stage leads to paint failure and mould. We monitor moisture levels with a hygrometer and do not begin decoration until readings are within tolerance.
Electrical face plates (sockets, switches, light fittings) are installed. Bathroom and kitchen fittings are connected. Radiators or underfloor heating thermostats are fitted. Doors are hung, ironmongery fitted, skirting boards and architraves installed. This stage brings the house from a building site to something recognisable as a home.
Kitchen units, worktops, splashbacks and appliances are installed. Bathrooms are tiled, sanitaryware fitted, screens and mirrors hung. These are the highest-specification elements of the refurbishment and require careful protection during subsequent decoration work.
Walls are mist-coated (to seal new plaster), then finished with two coats of emulsion. Woodwork is undercoated and gloss-finished (or eggshell for a contemporary look). Ceilings are painted. Wallpaper is hung where specified. This stage must happen after all dusty trades (plastering, tiling, sanding) are complete to avoid contamination of wet paint surfaces.
A detailed room-by-room inspection identifies any defects: paint touch-ups, alignment adjustments, scratches, incomplete seals, stiff handles, squeaky floorboards. Every snag is logged, photographed and rectified before handover. We provide a full handover pack including appliance manuals, paint references, material specifications, electrical certificates, gas safety records and a 12-month defects liability warranty.
Not every refurbishment requires building regulations approval, but many elements do. Here are the key Approved Documents that commonly apply.
Any electrical work in a dwelling must be carried out by a Part P registered electrician or notified to building control. A full rewire, new consumer unit, new circuits, or work in bathrooms and kitchens all require Part P compliance. On completion, you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and the work is registered on the national database. We use Part P registered electricians on every project and provide full certification as standard.
When you replace more than 25% of a thermal element (roof, walls, floors, windows), the replacement must meet current thermal performance standards. This means if you are replastering walls, you may need to add insulation to meet the required U-values. Similarly, window replacement triggers minimum energy performance requirements. In a full refurbishment where all elements are being renewed, a SAP assessment may be required to demonstrate overall energy performance. We design insulation strategies that improve thermal performance without compromising room proportions or period character.
If you are refurbishing a flat within a converted building, fire safety regulations apply to the means of escape. Fire doors (FD30S) must be fitted to all habitable rooms opening onto a communal hallway. Smoke detection systems must comply with BS 5839. Fire-resistant construction may be required to walls and ceilings separating your flat from communal areas and other dwellings. Where structural alterations create new openings in fire-separating elements, fire stopping must be installed to maintain compartmentalisation.
When converting a house into flats, or refurbishing an existing flat conversion, Part E requires minimum acoustic performance between dwellings. This typically means upgrading floor and wall constructions to achieve specified airborne and impact sound insulation values. Even in a single dwelling, acoustic insulation between bedrooms and living spaces significantly improves comfort. We specify acoustic mineral wool, resilient bars, acoustic plasterboard and floating floor systems where required to achieve or exceed the minimum standards.
A structured process ensuring nothing is missed.
Full property survey — structural condition, M&E assessment, damp checks, asbestos screening. We discuss how you use each room, your lifestyle priorities and aesthetic preferences. You receive a feasibility report with scope, budget and timeline.
Architects redesign the floor plan. Interior designers develop material palettes, colour schemes, joinery details, bathroom and kitchen schemes, lighting and furniture layouts — all in photorealistic 3D. Every selection approved from physical samples before ordering. Complete specification document locks in every finish before construction.
Property stripped to structural shell. Old kitchens, bathrooms, floor coverings, plaster, electrics and plumbing removed. Structural engineering-led alterations: walls removed, steels installed, floors strengthened. Asbestos professionally removed where found.
New electrical circuits, plumbing and heating throughout. Underfloor heating, insulation, plasterboarding, plastering and stud walls for new room configurations. Every socket, switch and pipe position exactly as specified.
Kitchen installation, bathroom tiling, flooring throughout, bespoke joinery, staircase renovation, door hanging, ironmongery, second fix electrics, painting and decoration — room by room to quality sign-off. Snagging and handover with 12-month warranty.
Guide prices per sqm. All tiers include design, structural work, full M&E, kitchens, bathrooms and decoration.
What makes our refurbishments different from a builder and a decorator.
Layout redesign by a RIBA architect and interior specification by a dedicated designer — working in tandem from day one. Spatial planning and material palette developed together, not sequentially.
Every room rendered in photorealistic 3D before construction. See exactly how finishes, furniture and lighting work together. Changes on screen, not on site.
One price for design, M&E, structural work, kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, joinery and decoration. Not a builder's quote with interiors as an extra — a single all-inclusive figure.
We understand Victorian proportions, Georgian joinery profiles, Edwardian ceiling heights and how to introduce contemporary elements that complement period character.
Our Finchley Road studio houses stone samples, timber swatches, tile displays, fabric books and ironmongery collections — all for in-person selection.
We manage procurement of every material and fitting — coordinating lead times across 50+ suppliers to ensure on-time site delivery.
Insulation improvements, draught-proofing, boiler upgrades and window enhancements that improve energy performance without compromising character.
Original sashes overhauled, draught-sealed, re-weighted and re-glazed rather than replaced — maintaining heritage character and avoiding replacement costs.
Dedicated project manager coordinates all trades, manages the programme, conducts weekly inspections and provides regular client updates.
We refurbish both vacant properties (fastest) and occupied homes (phased room-by-room). We advise the most practical approach for your circumstances.
Many clients appoint us before completing on a purchase — so the programme starts on day of exchange and the house is ready to move into on completion.
Selected whole-house refurbishments across London.
Full strip-back and reconfiguration. New open-plan ground floor, 3 bathrooms, bespoke kitchen and complete rewire/replumb.
Sensitive refurbishment: new kitchen-diner, 3 redesigned bathrooms, period joinery restoration and complete M&E upgrade.
Complete 95sqm flat refurbishment. New layout with en-suite master, open-plan kitchen-living, full rewire and contemporary interior.
Need a same-day repair in NW London?
Visit Hampstead On Demand →We bought a tired 1890s terrace and appointed Hampstead Renovations before exchange. They started the day we got the keys. Eighteen weeks later we moved into a home that felt like it had been built for us — the layout is completely different but every period detail respected. The interior design continuity room to room makes the whole house feel intentional.
The 3D room renders were game-changing. We could see exactly how the herringbone floor, wall colour, pendant lights and joinery worked together before orders were placed. We made two changes in design that would have cost thousands on site. The fixed price held exactly across 22 weeks and 240 square metres.
We refurbished our Maida Vale flat while renting it out — Hampstead managed everything without us visiting once during the 12-week build. The procurement coordination was extraordinary: every tile, fitting and piece of ironmongery arrived exactly when needed. Boutique hotel standard quality. Tenants moved in the day after handover.
Common questions from owners refurbishing a Knightsbridge townhouse or mansion flat.
Does my property need listed building consent?
Many Knightsbridge buildings are listed, so the answer is often yes — and consent is needed for internal alterations as well as external ones. Even where a building is not listed, it almost certainly falls within the Knightsbridge Conservation Area, which controls what can change on the outside. The first step on any SW1X property is to establish its precise designation with Kensington and Chelsea, because that single fact reshapes the design brief.
How is estate consent different from planning permission?
They are separate permissions from different bodies. Planning permission and listed building consent come from the borough; estate consent comes from the landowner, and much of the land in Knightsbridge is held by the Cadogan and other estates. One does not substitute for the other, and both can impose conditions on the same piece of work, which is why they are pursued in parallel.
My flat is leasehold. When do I need a Licence to Alter?
In the prime mansion flats around Lowndes Square, Cadogan Place and Wilton Place, most substantive work needs one — typically anything touching structure, services, floor build-ups or the position of wet rooms. The Licence to Alter is granted by the freeholder and is a separate track from planning and Building Regulations. It usually arrives with technical conditions attached, so it is best started at design stage rather than once a contractor is booked.
Can I build a basement in Knightsbridge?
Basement schemes are common here, but they are governed by RBKC strict basement policy, and what is achievable varies from street to street and building to building. The engineering — underpinning, temporary support and waterproofing design — has to be resolved with the borough and with adjoining owners before the ground is opened.
Will I need a party wall award?
Almost certainly. Knightsbridge is terraces and mansion blocks, so structural work, excavation and underpinning nearly always affect a shared wall or a neighbouring foundation. A party wall award is a statutory agreement, not an optional extra, and the schedules of condition it depends on protect you as much as the neighbour.
What does the Article 4 direction mean for me?
It removes permitted-development rights that owners elsewhere take for granted, so alterations you might assume are automatic can require an application to Kensington and Chelsea. In practice it means external change is a planning conversation from the outset.
What drives the cost of a Knightsbridge refurbishment?
Specification is one part of it. The bigger variables are RBKC-compliant basement works, acoustic separation in the mansion blocks, conservation-grade repair to stucco, stone and joinery, and party wall awards agreed with close, high-value neighbours. Approvals and engineering, rather than surface finishes, tend to be the dominant levers.
How is noise between flats handled?
Acoustic separation is designed into the floor and separating-wall build-ups during first fix, not bolted on at the end. It matters twice over in a mansion block: once for the regulations, and once because the freeholder will usually want to see the detail before consenting.
Can the layout of a listed townhouse be changed?
Often it can, but the case has to be made. Original plan form, staircases, cornices and joinery are part of what is protected, so re-planning tends to concentrate on later additions, service areas and lower floors, with historic principal rooms restored rather than reconfigured.
How long should I expect the process to take?
The build is only half the answer. Consent lead-in — listed building consent, estate consent, a Licence to Alter, party wall awards — is what usually determines the start date, and a basement lengthens the structural phase considerably. Sequencing the permissions properly is the most reliable way to shorten the whole programme.
Do I have to move out while the work runs?
For a full strip-back it is far simpler if the property is empty, since kitchens, bathrooms and heating come out early and the structural stages are noisy and dusty. In a mansion flat there is a second reason: entrances, lifts and service routes are shared with other residents, and the freeholder or managing agent will normally set how and when they can be used. A townhouse gives more freedom, though basement excavation and underpinning are still difficult to live above.
What happens if work starts before the consents are in place?
It is the one error on a Knightsbridge project that cannot be quietly corrected. Unauthorised alteration to a listed building or to the exterior of a property in the conservation area is a matter for the borough, and work carried out without estate consent or a Licence to Alter puts the lease itself at issue. Retrospective approval is never certain, and undoing finished work in a protected building is expensive and damaging.
Is Knightsbridge treated the same as the areas around it?
Not necessarily. Knightsbridge sits in Kensington and Chelsea and borders Belgravia, Mayfair, Victoria, Pimlico, Marylebone and Bayswater, and the rules that bind your project are those of the authority, conservation area and estate your particular building sits in. Confirming which of those apply to your address is the first thing to settle.
Common questions about full house refurbishment.
A typical full refurbishment of a 3–4 bedroom London property takes 12–24 weeks on site, depending on the scope of structural works, specification level and property size. A smaller flat (1–2 bedrooms) with no structural alterations can be completed in 8–12 weeks. Larger properties (5+ bedrooms) or projects involving basement or loft conversions may take 6–9 months. Add 4–8 weeks of design time before construction begins. We provide a detailed programme at the start of every project showing weekly milestones and key decision points.
For a full refurbishment — where every room is being stripped, rewired and replastered — we strongly recommend moving out. The property will have no functioning kitchen or bathroom during the works, dust levels are significant during strip-out and plastering phases, and the constant presence of trades makes daily living extremely difficult. Most clients either rent nearby, stay with family or use short-term accommodation. For partial refurbishments (one floor at a time), it may be possible to live in the unaffected part of the property, though this extends the programme and requires careful sequencing.
The terms are often used interchangeably, but in the construction industry, a refurbishment implies a more comprehensive scope than a renovation. A renovation might involve updating kitchens and bathrooms, redecorating and minor repairs — working with the existing layout and services. A full refurbishment typically means stripping the property back to its structural shell and rebuilding everything: new electrics, new plumbing, new heating, new layout, new finishes throughout. It is essentially creating a new home within an existing shell. Our full refurbishment service covers the complete scope from strip-out to handover.
Internal refurbishment work generally does not require planning permission — you can rewire, replumb, replaster, fit new kitchens and bathrooms, and redecorate without any planning application. However, planning permission is needed if you are: changing the external appearance of the building (new windows, changing door positions, removing chimneys), making structural alterations visible from outside, changing the use of the property, or working on a listed building (where Listed Building Consent is required for most internal and external works). In conservation areas, window replacement and external changes may also require planning consent.
Our full refurbishment costs typically range from £650–£1,250/sqm, depending on specification level. A standard refurbishment sits at the lower end of that range and includes complete rewire, replumb, plastering, new kitchen, new bathrooms, flooring and decoration to a good quality. A premium specification sits mid-range and adds bespoke joinery, designer kitchens, high-end sanitaryware, engineered timber flooring and architectural lighting. An ultra-premium specification sits at the top of that range and includes top-tier brands (Bulthaup, Lefroy Brooks, Dinesen), smart home systems, and bespoke everything. For a 150 sqm London house, expect total costs of £75,000–£180,000 depending on specification.
Our full refurbishment scope covers: architectural layout redesign, 3D visualisations, complete strip-out, structural alterations (wall removals, steels), full electrical rewire to 18th Edition, full replumb in copper and plastic, new heating system (boiler or heat pump), plastering throughout, new kitchen design and installation, new bathroom design and installation, flooring throughout (timber, stone, tile or LVT), bespoke joinery (wardrobes, shelving, media walls), staircase renovation, door replacement or overhaul, ironmongery, lighting design, decoration (paint, wallpaper), and snagging. Interior design specification is included as part of the package — not charged separately.
Yes, for most elements of a full refurbishment. Electrical rewiring must comply with Part P and be certified by a registered electrician. Structural engineering-led alterations (wall removals, new beams) require building regulations approval under Part A. Replacement windows must meet Part L energy standards. Heating installations must comply with Part J (combustion appliances) and Part L. In flats, fire safety (Part B) and acoustic (Part E) requirements apply. We manage all building regulations applications and inspections as part of our service, ensuring full compliance and providing all necessary certificates at handover.
Protecting original features is a priority on every period property refurbishment. Before strip-out, we conduct a detailed survey identifying features to retain: original cornicing, ceiling roses, fireplaces, floor tiles, timber floors, panelled doors, balustrades, stained glass and decorative plasterwork. These are either protected in situ with boarding, dust sheets and impact protection, or carefully removed, labelled and stored off-site for reinstatement. Our specialist plasterers can repair damaged cornicing and cast new sections to match existing profiles. Original timber floors are sanded and refinished. Fireplaces are restored, re-lined where necessary and fitted with appropriate grates or log burners. Where original features have been lost in previous unsympathetic alterations, we commission faithful reproductions from specialist craftspeople.
A full refurbishment often includes elements from our specialist services. Explore the detail.
Bespoke kitchen design, premium cabinetry, integrated appliances and stone worktops — our dedicated kitchen service delivers the heart of your refurbished home.
Walk-in showers, freestanding baths, wall-hung sanitaryware and underfloor heating — every bathroom designed as a spa-like retreat.
Wall removals, steel beam installations, floor strengthening and foundation work — the structural backbone of every refurbishment project.
Use these area-specific guide pages to compare the next build routes, planning questions and cost topics people commonly research in Knightsbridge SW1X and SW7.
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We survey your property, discuss your vision and provide a clear budget framework.
Book Free ConsultationWe're not a national chain — we're a local design and build practice with deep roots in Knightsbridge and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Our design studio at 250 Finchley Road NW3 is just 20 minutes from Knightsbridge. Visit to see materials, meet the team, and discuss your project in person.
Our RIBA architects have extensive experience with Westminster & RBKC Council's planning department, conservation officers, and building control team. We know what gets approved.
From the Listed townhouses, lateral apartments, mansion flats and mews houses on Brompton Road, Beauchamp Place, Montpelier Square and Trevor Square — we understand the specific construction challenges and planning context of every property type in SW1X / SW7.
the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea · SW1X/SW7
Whole-property refurbishment in Knightsbridge frequently involves conservation-area consent — and listed-building consent where applicable — so the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea assesses external alterations, windows and structural changes alongside Building Regulations, often with party wall agreements on terraced and semi-detached homes.
Knightsbridge SW1X/SW7 sits within Knightsbridge's conservation areas, and the Royal Borough operates one of the country's strictest planning regimes — its basement policy limits excavation to a single storey beneath the footprint, and listed-building and conservation control is extensive. Knightsbridge straddles the Royal Borough and Westminster, so the authority depends on the street. Our RIBA architects prepare and submit every application to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and handle pre-application discussions where a scheme is finely balanced.
Full Refurbishment in Knightsbridge must satisfy Building Regulations — covering structural alterations to Part A, fire safety to Part B, thermal upgrades to Part L, and electrical and gas certification. Our in-house engineers manage Building Control from initial notice to completion certificate.
See recent Knightsbridge work: Chevalier House, Knightsbridge Rutland Court, Knightsbridge. Explore our Kitchen Renovation Loft Conversions in Knightsbridge, or the Knightsbridge hub.
Our in-house planning team prepares and submits every the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea application and manages building control end to end. View our planning track record →
The same NW3 design-build team covers the neighbouring areas: