Renovations · Kensington & Chelsea
— Kensington · Chelsea · SW3 · SW7 · SW10
Property refurbishment in Kensington & Chelsea.
Period restorations, listed building refurbishments, kitchen and bathroom renovations, basement conversions across Kensington, Chelsea, South Kensington, Knightsbridge and the surrounding Royal Borough. Two decades of South London building experience.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is one of the most heavily protected boroughs in the UK — more than 70 conservation areas, over 4,000 listed buildings, extensive Article 4 directions, and one of the strictest basement excavation 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. Since 2014, RBKC’s basement excavation policy restricts new basements to single-storey, prohibits excavation under more than 50% of the garden, and requires construction management plans. 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
Renovation costs in Kensington & Chelsea.
Honest ranges based on recent Kensington, Chelsea and Pimlico projects. RBKC is London’s most expensive borough 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 operates over 70 conservation areas covering virtually the entire borough, with **more than 4,000 listed buildings** — one of the UK’s highest concentrations. Article 4 directions remove almost all permitted development rights in most 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 excavation policy — introduced in 2014 and one of the strictest in London. New basements limited to single-storey, no excavation under more than 50% of the garden, dedicated Construction Management Plans required, neighbour consultation mandatory.
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 Kensington & Chelsea homeowners choose us.
Heritage and listed building experience. Two decades of working with Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian properties across South London and West London. 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. 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.
— 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 over 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 2014 basement excavation policy: limited to single-storey only, no excavation under more than 50% of the garden, dedicated Construction Management Plan required, neighbour consultation mandatory. 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
South London renovations beyond Kensington & Chelsea.
We work across South London and Surrey — every postcode has different planning rules, building stock, and architectural character.
Richmond upon Thames · Wandsworth · Wimbledon · Croydon · Purley & Kenley · Banstead · Beckenham · Bromley · Warlingham
— 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.