Architects, Engineers, Surveyors & Builders Under One Roof.
Surveyor-led refurbishment advice via Hampstead Chartered Surveyors →One Studio. One Contract. One Team.
We deliver Soho 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 Soho. 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. Soho properties typically include Georgian townhouses, Soho conversions, mansion flats above retail.
Creative quarter with residential properties above ground-floor commercial premises. Tight urban grain with Georgian townhouses on quieter streets. Westminster conservation area. A full refurbishment in Soho 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 Soho 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 Soho 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.
Soho W1D is one of London's densest, most mixed-use quarters, so a full refurbishment of a whole building here is defined by fire compartmentation, party structures and exceptionally tight access as much as by the finishes. 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 Soho work or book a consultation.
A full refurbishment in Soho begins with the admission that almost nothing here is a standard London terrace. The W1D grid holds small-scale seventeenth and eighteenth century houses around Soho Square, Golden Square, Gerrard Street, Old Compton Street, Dean Street and Meard Street, alongside larger Victorian theatre, retail and media buildings on Shaftesbury Avenue, Wardour Street and Charing Cross Road. That intensely mixed grain drives the work, and it is why the survey stage carries more weight than the mood board.
Soho's residential life sits above its streets. Most of the flats and maisonettes refurbished here are leasehold homes over shops, bars and studios, so acoustic separation from the night-time economy below is central to the work rather than something bolted on at second fix. Floor build-ups, party-wall junctions between narrow plots, riser routes and window detailing all have to be resolved as one decision.
Only then does layout planning begin: reworking tight period floor plates, relocating bathrooms so drainage runs sensibly through a stacked mixed-use building, and improving circulation without losing the proportions that make a Dean Street or Greek Street interior worth keeping. On the Georgian townhouses of Dean Street, Frith Street and Greek Street the objective is conservation-led restoration of authentic period detail. In the upper-floor conversions above, it is a calm, well-insulated, properly serviced home inside a building that never really sleeps.
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.
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 this is a genuine choice. In Soho it rarely is. The area sits in the City of Westminster within the Soho Conservation Area, and the council's own Soho guide records many listed seventeenth and eighteenth century buildings, listed Victorian theatres and protected squares. Where a building is listed, or where its elevation contributes to a conservation area that Westminster scrutinises closely, demolition is not a route you can realistically plan around.
Why refurbishment is normally the answer here
Where deeper intervention is still justified
Back-to-brick work behind retained elevations, with new floors, new services and new thermal and acoustic build-ups, is often the honest answer when a Soho building has been subdivided repeatedly for commercial use over three centuries. That remains refurbishment, and it is assessed against the Soho Neighbourhood Plan and the wider Westminster development-plan context rather than treated as a clean-sheet rebuild.
One further constraint shapes anything below ground. An archaeological-priority area runs around Gerrard Street and Cambridge Circus, and Westminster's city-wide basement Article 4 direction and Code of Construction Practice apply to basement schemes. Ground works in W1D are evidenced, never assumed.
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.
Sequencing matters everywhere. In W1D it is effectively the project. Every scheme here needs tightly-planned logistics for a street with no spare space, and the order of works is built backwards from that reality: restricted loading, an evening economy that wakes up as the trades pack away, and theatre servicing around Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road all dictate when material can arrive and waste can leave.
1. Consents, surveys and neighbour agreements
Before anything is stripped out, the Westminster position is established: conservation-area boundary, whether the building is listed, which Article 4 controls apply, and what the Soho Neighbourhood Plan expects. Westminster publishes Soho conservation-area maps, a mini guide and an adopted audit, and knowing those rules early keeps a Soho scheme on track. Party wall notices are served in parallel, because narrow plots mean adjoining owners on both flanks and, very often, a commercial occupier directly below.
2. Access, protection and the mixed-use ground floor
Routes in and out are agreed before the first skip arrives. Licensing and trading hours on the ground floor shape delivery windows, and protection of shared stairs, shopfronts and neighbouring entrances is installed while the building is still intact.
3. Strip-out
Kitchens, bathrooms, later partitions, redundant services and non-original linings come out so the true condition of a building altered many times over is finally visible. In repeatedly subdivided Soho premises this stage regularly exposes historic structural alterations that nobody recorded.
4. Structure and party-wall works
Openings, beams, floor strengthening and anything notifiable under a party wall award follow, under the agreed structural methodology. Where the scheme reaches below ground, waterproofing design, flood and drainage evidence and lightwell detailing are resolved at this point, and archaeology is addressed where the Lundenwic and Thorney Island area applies.
5. Acoustic and thermal build-ups
This is the stage a Soho flat lives or dies on. Separating floors, party-wall linings and window detailing go in before services are buried, because performance against the night-time economy below cannot be retrofitted once the plasterboard is up. In a leasehold conversion the freeholder's requirements are checked against the specification here, not later.
6. First fix, plaster, second fix and finishes
Electrics, plumbing, ventilation and heating run through the routes agreed at design stage. The building is then plastered, dried out and finished. Joinery and conservation-led repairs to original detail in a Dean Street or Frith Street townhouse are among the last items installed, protected until the noisy trades have gone and the street can be handed back to Soho.
Because access on the tight streets is demanding, no two Soho programmes phase identically. A Georgian townhouse in single occupation can run trade by trade from the top of the house downwards, while a leasehold flat above a bar has to work around the freeholder's access rules and the trading hours beneath it. The sequence is confirmed for the specific building before the first delivery is booked.
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.
Soho sits in the City of Westminster, within the Soho Conservation Area, on one of the densest and most historic street grids in London. For a W1D address that means consent work often sets the programme before any building regulations detail is resolved.
Where narrow plots share structure, a party wall award is commonly needed too, and access on these tight streets remains demanding throughout.
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.
What makes a refurbishment in Soho different from the rest of W1?
Density and mixture. Soho sits in the City of Westminster on one of the densest and most historic street grids in London, and its surviving Georgian townhouses, characterful conversions and upper-floor flats, many listed and above a famously busy mixed-use ground floor, make refurbishment here as much about logistics and consents as construction. Neighbouring Fitzrovia, Covent Garden, Mayfair, Marylebone, St James's and Bloomsbury each have their own character, but none combines the two pressures the way W1D does.
Will I need planning permission or listed building consent?
Assume both are in play until checked. The area lies within the Soho Conservation Area, Westminster scrutinises external change closely, and the council's Soho guide records many listed seventeenth and eighteenth century buildings, listed Victorian theatres and protected squares. Westminster publishes conservation-area maps, a mini guide and an adopted audit, while the Soho Neighbourhood Plan forms part of the development-plan context. The position for your specific address is established before design commits to anything external.
My flat is above a bar. Can the noise genuinely be dealt with?
It is designed first, not last. Upper-floor flats and maisonettes here are leasehold homes above the shops and bars, and acoustic separation from the night-time economy is central to the work. Separating floor build-ups, party-wall linings, service penetrations and window detailing are specified together at structural stage rather than patched once the finishes are on.
Can I convert or excavate a basement?
Sometimes, and only with evidence. Any basement scheme is checked against Westminster's city-wide basement Article 4 direction and Code of Construction Practice, and the design must carry structural methodology, waterproofing, flood and drainage evidence and lightwell design. Where the Lundenwic and Thorney Island area applies, archaeology forms part of the process, and an archaeological-priority area also runs around Gerrard Street and Cambridge Circus.
How do deliveries and waste removal work on streets this tight?
They are planned like a production schedule. Access on the tight streets is demanding, restricted loading applies, and the evening economy and theatre servicing around Shaftesbury Avenue, Wardour Street and Charing Cross Road compete for the same kerb. Every project here needs tightly-planned logistics for a street with no spare space, so delivery windows, storage strategy and phasing are agreed before the programme is fixed.
Will a party wall award be needed?
Very often. Plots between Dean Street, Frith Street, Greek Street and Wardour Street are narrow, so structural work usually affects owners on both flanks and, in stacked buildings, above and below as well. Notices go out early so the award is settled before structural works are due to start, rather than becoming the reason a programme slips.
I am a leaseholder. What extra approvals apply?
Most Soho homes above the ground floor are leasehold conversions over shops, bars and studios. Freeholder consent to alter, building-wide fire and acoustic requirements, and limits on working hours and access through shared entrances therefore sit on top of the statutory consents, and are planned as a parallel workstream.
How long does a Soho project take?
The build is rarely the binding constraint. Consents, party wall procedure, freeholder approval and access restrictions shape the programme, and a listed Georgian townhouse on Dean Street runs to a different rhythm from an upper-floor conversion off Wardour Street. Programmes here are written backwards from the consents and confirmed once the position on your building is known.
Do I have to move out?
For back-to-brick work in a small period building, realistically yes. There is no practical way to run structural, acoustic and services work around occupation on a floor plate this size. Room-by-room phasing is more achievable in a larger townhouse, although noise, dust and shared-access limits in a mixed-use building make it harder here than on a suburban street.
Can original features be kept?
That is the intention on the Georgian townhouses of Dean Street, Frith Street and Greek Street, where fine period houses are restored with authentic, conservation-led detail. In later conversions the answer varies honestly: repeated subdivision for commercial use has often removed more than it left, so what survives is recorded before anything is stripped.
Can anything be done at ground-floor level?
That is the most constrained part of most Soho buildings. Mixed-use and licensing constraints shape the ground floor, conservation-area and Article 4 controls limit external change, and in the majority of cases the residential demise starts above it. Where a small period house around Soho Square, Golden Square or Meard Street remains in single occupation the picture differs, but it is still checked against Westminster's adopted Soho audit before anything is drawn.
What if the building turns out to be more altered than expected?
It frequently is. The small-scale seventeenth and eighteenth century houses off Old Compton Street, Gerrard Street and Dean Street have absorbed centuries of commercial change, and strip-out is where undocumented alterations surface. Anything touching structure, a party wall or listed fabric is reported and re-priced before the next trade is booked in.
What drives the cost of a Soho project?
The conditions around the work rather than the finishes themselves. W1 logistics, restricted loading, the evening economy and theatre servicing, archaeology where it applies, party walls between narrow plots, structural methodology, waterproofing, flood and drainage evidence, lightwell design and listed or conservation-area elevations are the real variables. Two addresses on the same Soho street can sit far apart on every one of them, which is why the building is surveyed and costed rather than rated.
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 Soho W1.
Visit our studio or invite us to survey your home. We'll assess scope, discuss design possibilities and provide an honest budget framework — completely free.
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 Soho and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Our design studio at 250 Finchley Road NW3 is just 20 minutes from Soho. Visit to see materials, meet the team, and discuss your project in person.
Our RIBA architects have extensive experience with Westminster Council's planning department, conservation officers, and building control team. We know what gets approved.
From the Heritage buildings, mixed-use conversions and listed properties on Dean Street, Wardour Street, Greek Street and Soho Square — we understand the specific construction challenges and planning context of every property type in W1.
Westminster City Council · W1
Whole-property refurbishment in Soho frequently involves conservation-area consent — and listed-building consent where applicable — so Westminster City Council assesses external alterations, windows and structural changes alongside Building Regulations, often with party wall agreements on terraced and semi-detached homes.
Soho W1 sits within Soho's conservation areas, and Westminster applies a demanding conservation and listed-building regime, and many mansion blocks and townhouses here are listed or sit within tightly controlled estates such as the Grosvenor, Howard de Walden and Crown estates. Our RIBA architects prepare and submit every application to Westminster City Council and handle pre-application discussions where a scheme is finely balanced.
Full Refurbishment in Soho 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.
Explore our other Soho services — Kitchen Renovation Loft Conversions — or the Soho renovation hub.
Our in-house planning team prepares and submits every Westminster City Council application and manages building control end to end. View our planning track record →
The same NW3 design-build team covers the neighbouring areas: