Renovations · Kensington & Chelsea
— Kensington · Chelsea · SW3 · SW7 · SW10
Property refurbishment in Kensington & Chelsea.
Luxury refurbishment, period restorations, listed building work, kitchen and bathroom renovations and basement conversions across Kensington, Chelsea, South Kensington, Knightsbridge and the surrounding Royal Borough. Family-run builders based in South London, working across the Royal Borough since 2014.
Property refurbishment in Kensington and Chelsea is a different discipline from anywhere else we work, and luxury refurbishment here starts with the planning position. The Royal Borough is one of the most heavily protected in the UK — 35 conservation areas covering over 70 per cent of the borough, around 4,000 listed buildings, extensive Article 4 directions, and one of the strictest basement policies in London. We’ve worked on Georgian and Victorian townhouses, mansion flats, mews houses, and listed properties across SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10, W8 and W11 — alongside trusted heritage architects and planning consultants.
— What we do in Kensington & Chelsea
The renovations we deliver across the Royal Borough.
Period restorations and listed building refurbishments
Georgian and Victorian townhouses across Chelsea, South Kensington and Holland Park are protected by some of London’s most extensive heritage controls. Listed Building Consent is required for almost any alteration — internal layouts, period features, sash windows, plaster cornices, fireplaces. We work with conservation officers and heritage architects from the start. See full property refurbishment service.
Kitchen renovations in mansion flats and townhouses
Bespoke German and British cabinetry, marble or porcelain worktops, integrated Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, statement islands, wine fridges. Mansion flat kitchens often involve restricted access and tight delivery logistics — we plan accordingly. See kitchen renovation projects.
Luxury bathrooms and wet rooms
Marble tiling, frameless wet rooms, freestanding stone and copper baths, brushed brass and matte black fittings, premium German and Italian sanitaryware, underfloor heating. Period bathrooms restored to spa quality, or modern minimalist installations in newer properties. See bathroom renovation gallery.
Basement conversions
Basement conversion is a major specialism in K&C. RBKC’s basement policy (Policy CL7, adopted 2015) restricts new basements to a single storey, prohibits excavation under more than 50% of the garden, and requires a Construction Traffic Management Plan. We handle basement extensions, conversions of existing cellars, and waterproof tanking for moisture management. Always involves structural engineer, party wall surveyors, and dedicated planning consultants.
Full house refurbishments
Complete refurbishments of Georgian and Victorian townhouses across Chelsea, South Kensington, Holland Park and Notting Hill — full rewire, replaster, new kitchen and bathrooms, structural reconfiguration where listing allows, bespoke joinery, period features restored, modern services integrated invisibly. Typical project 20-40 weeks. See property refurbishment service.
— Recent projects
Recent work in Kensington, Chelsea and Pimlico.
— Costs
Luxury refurbishment costs in Kensington & Chelsea.
Honest ranges based on recent Kensington, Chelsea and Pimlico projects. RBKC is among the most expensive boroughs in London for renovation work — driven by listed building consent requirements, conservation area constraints, restricted access, parking permits, dust suppression requirements, and the premium specifications typical of K&C clients. Most projects sit at the higher end of these ranges.
| Project type | Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury bathroom | £15,000 – £45,000+ | 4-8 weeks |
| Kitchen renovation | £35,000 – £100,000+ | 6-12 weeks |
| Loft conversion | £80,000 – £180,000+ | 12-20 weeks |
| Basement conversion | £150,000 – £400,000+ | 6-12 months |
| Full house refurbishment | £250,000 – £750,000+ | 20-40 weeks |
Prices exclude VAT, architect, structural engineer, heritage consultant, planning consultant and council fees. Listed Building Consent and basement excavation applications handled by trusted partners. Detailed fixed-price quote within 48-72 hours of site visit.
→ See our full pricing guide for South London renovations
— Planning in K&C
Listed buildings, conservation areas, RBKC Planning.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea designates 35 conservation areas covering over 70 per cent of the borough, with around 4,000 listed buildings — one of the UK’s highest concentrations. Inside a conservation area, a loft dormer needs full planning permission regardless of Article 4; and the borough’s Article 4 directions then remove most of the remaining permitted development rights — windows, doors, front elevations, roof coverings, hard standing — on the majority of K&C streets.
Listed Building Consent is required for almost any alteration to a listed property — internal layout changes, window replacement, period feature modification, even paint colour in some cases. Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II all require formal consent. Heritage Statements are typically required as supporting documentation.
Basement policy — Policy CL7, adopted in 2015 and one of the strictest in London. New basements limited to a single storey, no excavation under more than 50% of the garden, a Construction Traffic Management Plan required, and Basement Impact Assessment with the application.
We check the listing status, conservation area boundaries, and Article 4 designations during the initial site visit. K&C projects almost always require a planning consultant and heritage architect — we work with trusted local specialists or alongside your existing team.
— Why LMDEC
Why homeowners choose us for property refurbishment in Kensington & Chelsea.
Heritage and listed building experience. We have worked with Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian properties across South and West London since 2014. We know what conservation officers will and won’t accept, what listings consent applications need, and how to integrate modern services invisibly into period homes.
Mansion flat and townhouse logistics. K&C work involves restricted access, parking permits, dust containment, sound restrictions in apartment buildings, and neighbour management. We plan logistics in detail before mobilising on site.
Designer and architect collaboration. Most K&C clients engage interior designers, heritage architects, and planning consultants. We work seamlessly alongside existing teams — coordinating tradesmen, materials, deliveries, and snagging.
£2 million Public Liability insurance, two-year workmanship warranty, and six-month return visit included — and a separate ten-year guarantee on tanked floors and wet rooms. All gas work carried out by individually qualified Gas Safe registered subcontractors; all electrical work by individually qualified NICEIC certified subcontractors. Registration numbers available on request for verification before work starts. Over fifty verified five-star reviews on Google, Trustindex and Yell — read what our clients say.
— Stay in the loop
Follow your Kensington or Chelsea project in real time.
A listed-building refurbishment or basement in K&C runs for months, involves a designer, a heritage architect and a planning consultant, and generates a great many decisions. Every LMDEC project includes our private Client Portal: a live schedule, progress photos straight from site, every drawing, consent and certificate in one place, and one-click sign-off on any variation with the cost shown before you decide — visible to you and, if you wish, to your designer. No app to install. See how the Client Portal works →
— Common questions
Frequently asked.
Do you work across all of Kensington & Chelsea?
Yes. We work regularly across SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10, W8, W10, W11 and W14 — Chelsea, South Kensington, Earl’s Court, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill, Holland Park, West Kensington — plus adjacent SW1 (Pimlico, Belgravia) and Hammersmith borders.
Do I need Listed Building Consent in Kensington & Chelsea?
If your property is listed (Grade I, II* or II), yes — for almost any alteration affecting character. RBKC has around 4,000 listed buildings, so this is common. We check the listing status during the initial site visit and work with heritage architects to prepare Heritage Statements and consent applications.
Can I still build a basement in Kensington & Chelsea?
Yes, but under RBKC’s basement policy (CL7, adopted 2015): limited to a single storey, no excavation under more than 50% of the garden, a Construction Traffic Management Plan and Basement Impact Assessment required with the application. Existing cellar conversions to habitable space are easier. We work with structural engineers and basement specialists on every project.
How long does a K&C townhouse refurbishment take?
Typically 20-40 weeks on site for a full house refurbishment. Add 16-30 weeks before that for design, planning permission, Listed Building Consent, and Building Regs drawings — K&C requires more detailed submissions than most boroughs.
Can you work with our interior designer?
Yes. Most K&C clients work with established interior designers — we collaborate regularly with designers, heritage architects, planning consultants and project managers. We coordinate tradesmen, materials, deliveries and snagging around the design vision.
— Also serving
Renovations beyond Kensington & Chelsea.
We work across West London, South London and Surrey — every postcode has different planning rules, building stock, and architectural character.
Richmond upon Thames · Wandsworth · Balham · Wimbledon · Croydon · Purley & Kenley · Banstead · Beckenham · Bromley · Warlingham
Guides: South London loft conversions · 2026 construction costs in London · Loft conversion regulations
— Ready to start
Let’s talk about your Kensington or Chelsea project.
Free site visit and detailed fixed-price quote within 48-72 hours. Listed building, mansion flat, basement conversion or townhouse refurbishment — we’ll quote any scope.