Full refurbishment in Richmond TW9 — whole-home programmes delivered strip-out to handover under a single fixed-price contract. One team, one design, one programme, one invoice. Design and Richmond upon Thames approvals run ahead of the build.
This is our broadest refurbishment service in Richmond. 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. Richmond properties typically include Georgian riverside houses, Victorian terraces, park-facing mansion flats.
Richmond falls within a conservation area, which means visible external alterations require careful design and often full planning permission. Our architects have extensive experience securing approvals in Richmond's conservation areas.
Our full refurbishment projects in Richmond are delivered by our in-house team of RIBA architects, structural engineers and specialist tradespeople. Every project is managed under a single fixed-price contract with no hidden costs.
Every project is delivered by our directly-employed teams — no subcontractors, no surprises, no hidden costs.
Complete renovation of Richmond 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 →Richmond TW9 is a historic Georgian riverside town, among the most heritage-sensitive settings in London, where a full refurbishment is a conservation-led, whole-property restoration carried out under close listed-building control. 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 Richmond upon Thames, 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 Richmond work or book a consultation.
In Richmond TW9 a full refurbishment is rarely a cosmetic exercise. The stock here — Georgian riverside houses, Victorian terraces and period homes around George Street, Hill Street and The Green — carries floor structures, services and layouts laid down for a different way of living, and the work that matters usually sits behind the plaster rather than on it.
The starting point is the consent strategy rather than the finishes. Richmond town and its riverside are covered by four conservation areas, each with a published conservation area statement: Richmond Green (No. 3), Richmond Riverside (No. 4), Richmond Hill (No. 5) and Central Richmond (No. 17). Listed-building consent applies widely across those streets, so what can change internally, and in what order, is established before a single material is chosen.
Within that framework the plan is resolved first — circulation, bathroom and utility positions, sight-lines through the floor plate, and how each storey of a tall terrace or Georgian house is actually used. Re-servicing, insulation of solid walls and the restoration of brick, joinery and plaster then follow as one conservation-led package rather than a strip-and-replace one, with consent obtained at each step where the building is listed.
Where a property sits close to the Thames, flood-resilience measures are designed into the specification from the outset, and elevations, roofs, windows and boundaries visible from the street or the river are treated as consent items from day one.
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.
Richmond TW9 mixes Georgian riverside houses, Victorian terraces, family houses and flats around George Street, Hill Street and The Green, so no two room schedules here look alike. Around Richmond Hill, Richmond Green and Maids of Honour Row many houses are listed, so interiors are reconfigured and re-serviced with consent at each step rather than stripped back in one move.
Leading with the consent strategy keeps a Richmond scheme on track.
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 much of Richmond upon Thames the choice between refurbishing and rebuilding is settled by the planning position long before it is settled by the structure. The borough scrutinises external change exceptionally closely, listed-building consent applies widely across TW9, and protected views and flood risk add constraints of their own. Where a house is listed, or stands within the Richmond Green, Richmond Riverside, Richmond Hill or Central Richmond conservation areas, demolition and replacement is not a realistic route and refurbishment is the only sensible frame.
Where refurbishment is clearly the right route
Where a more radical option deserves testing
If a property is unlisted, sits outside the protected view and makes no positive contribution to its conservation area, more substantial intervention is at least worth testing — but the test is a planning one first, run against the published statement for the relevant conservation area. In practice the balance in Richmond is usually struck internally: reconfiguring and re-servicing behind a retained, repaired envelope, with roof development and basement work each examined separately against the consent position and, close to the Thames, against flood risk.
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 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.
Building regulations approval is a separate matter from planning permission and listed-building consent, and a Richmond refurbishment routinely needs more than one of them. Consent governs what the building looks like and which historic fabric may be altered; the regulations govern how the work performs once it is finished. In TW9 those two demands are frequently in tension, and reconciling them is part of the design work rather than an afterthought.
Part P — electrical safety
Electrical work in a dwelling must either be notified to building control or certified under a competent person scheme, with certification issued on completion. Full rewires are common in Richmond's period houses, where the original circuits were never intended to serve contemporary kitchens, bathrooms and heating controls.
Part L — energy efficiency
Replacing a significant proportion of a thermal element brings current standards into play, and this is where conservation duties bite hardest. Solid-walled Georgian and Victorian houses inside the Richmond Green, Richmond Riverside, Richmond Hill and Central Richmond conservation areas cannot simply take a standard external treatment, and listed status commonly rules out replacing original sashes outright. The workable route is usually internal and reversible, agreed against the published statement for the relevant conservation area: repair of existing joinery, and insulation detailed to suit an old wall build-up rather than a modern one.
Structure, escape and moisture
Opening up a terrace, forming a loft or altering a roof, and excavating a basement all carry structural and means-of-escape requirements alongside the party wall position. Close to the Thames, moisture and flood-resilience detailing carries extra weight, and the specification for floors, finishes and service positions at the lowest level of the house is set with that exposure in mind.
Because the borough examines external change so closely, the practical rule in Richmond is to test any regulation-driven upgrade against the consent position before it is designed in — not after the drawings are complete.
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 about full house refurbishment in Richmond TW9.
Does my Richmond house sit in a conservation area?
Richmond town and its riverside are covered by four conservation areas, each with its own published conservation area statement: Richmond Green (No. 3), Richmond Riverside (No. 4), Richmond Hill (No. 5) and Central Richmond (No. 17). That statement is the document telling you which characteristics are being protected, and it is the reference point for any change to the outside of the building. Establishing which of the four applies is the first task on a TW9 refurbishment.
Will I need listed-building consent?
Frequently, yes. Richmond has a high concentration of listed Georgian houses and listed-building consent applies widely across the town. Where a property is listed, interiors are reconfigured and re-serviced with consent obtained at each step, which changes both the design method and the order of works. That position is settled before design decisions are locked, not discovered part-way through a build.
What drives the cost of a Richmond refurbishment?
Budgets here are shaped by terrace structure, party-wall coordination, facade and sash repair, listed or conservation-area constraints, access around historic streets and the level of interior specification. That is why a Victorian terrace off Ormond Road and a listed early-Georgian house on Richmond Green can be close in floor area and some way apart in cost. Figures are established against the surveyed property and its consent position rather than a published rate.
Does the protected view from Richmond Hill affect my project?
It can. The view from Richmond Hill is protected by the Richmond, Ham and Petersham Open Spaces Act 1902, and the Richmond Hill Conservation Area was designated on 14 January 1969 and extended in 1975, 1977 and 2000. For the grand Georgian houses on and around the hill, that means rooflines, dormers, rooflights, plant and boundary treatments are all examined against the protected view, and proposals are shaped to suit it.
Can I convert the loft or alter the roof?
Roof development in Richmond is a consent question before it is a construction question. Visible changes to roofs need early consent checks, and on listed buildings and within the four conservation areas the acceptable forms are limited. Where a roof alteration can be achieved, it is designed to sit correctly within the terrace's existing roofline rather than to maximise volume.
What about a basement?
Two quite different projects sit under that heading. Converting an existing cellar within the footprint is largely a damp, headroom and re-servicing exercise. Excavating new basement space with underpinning is a structural project with a party wall dimension and, near the Thames, a flood-risk dimension as well. Both are tested against the property's consent position before design proceeds.
Do I need a party wall award?
If your house is a terrace or shares a wall — which covers most of the town-centre stock and the Victorian terraces around Ormond Road — then structural openings, chimney-breast removal, underpinning and basement excavation bring the party wall procedure into play. Notices are served and the award agreed before the structural stage, with adjoining owners' properties recorded first.
My house is near the river. What changes?
Properties near the Thames are refurbished with flood-resilience measures designed in, alongside protected-view compliance. That affects decisions at the lowest level of the building — floor build-ups, finishes, and where services and their controls sit — and those are specification choices taken at design stage rather than remedial ones taken later.
Can original sash windows be kept?
In most Richmond schemes the intention is repair rather than replacement. Facade and sash repair is one of the recognised budget drivers in this area precisely because the listed and conservation position generally protects original joinery, and because the coherent facades of streets such as Maids of Honour Row and Richmond Green carry real value in their own right.
Do I need to move out?
For a full strip-back there is a stretch with no working kitchen, bathroom or heating, so vacating is the practical option. Where a Richmond home is being adapted rather than taken back to shell, work can be phased room by room with bathrooms and heating kept in service — though phasing lengthens the programme and has to be reconciled with the access constraints of the surrounding streets.
How long does it take?
Three things set the programme: the consent route, the structural scope and access. A listed house, a scheme inside the protected view, or one needing a party wall award will carry a longer pre-construction period than an unlisted, internally focused project. The programme is set against the specific property once the consent and structural positions are known.
Where do you start?
With the consent position. In TW9 it determines what the layout, the roof, the elevations and the services can actually become, so design, structure and specification are developed inside that envelope rather than against it.
Do you work outside Richmond?
Yes. The same south-west London pattern of period stock and conservation constraint runs through Barnes, Putney, Wimbledon, Wandsworth Town, Battersea and Fulham, and refurbishment in those areas is handled on the same consent-first basis.
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 Richmond TW9.
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Book Free ConsultationWe're not a national chain — we're a local design and build practice with deep roots in Richmond and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Our design studio at 250 Finchley Road NW3 is just 30 minutes from Richmond. Visit to see materials, meet the team, and discuss your project in person.
Our RIBA architects have extensive experience with Richmond Council's planning department, conservation officers, and building control team. We know what gets approved.
From the Georgian townhouses, Edwardian villas, riverside properties and period cottages on Richmond Hill, The Vineyard, Friars Stile Road and Queen's Road — we understand the specific construction challenges and planning context of every property type in TW9/TW10.
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames · TW9/TW10
Whole-property refurbishment in Richmond frequently involves conservation-area consent — and listed-building consent where applicable — so London Borough of Richmond upon Thames assesses external alterations, windows and structural changes alongside Building Regulations, often with party wall agreements on terraced and semi-detached homes.
Richmond TW9/TW10 sits within Richmond's conservation areas, and Richmond applies strict conservation, river-corridor and protected-view controls, and a large share of its buildings are listed. Our RIBA architects prepare and submit every application to London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and handle pre-application discussions where a scheme is finely balanced.
Full Refurbishment in Richmond 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 Richmond services — Kitchen Renovation Loft Conversions — or the Richmond renovation hub.
Our in-house planning team prepares and submits every London Borough of Richmond upon Thames application and manages building control end to end. View our planning track record →
The same NW3 design-build team covers the neighbouring areas: