Basement and cellar conversions in Chester

Covering Chester

We work in Chester (CH1) and the places around it, including Hawarden, Deeside and Ellesmere Port.

Homes in the North West

Across the North West, Victorian terraces, inter-war semis and modern estates all feature, and brick or stone matching is chosen to suit each street.

What is a basement conversion?

A basement conversion turns an existing cellar into dry, usable rooms, or excavates a new basement under a house. Converting an existing cellar is far simpler and cheaper than digging a new one, and often does not need planning permission.

Damp and structural survey
Underpinning or lowering the floor where needed
Ventilation, heating and electrics

How much should I budget for a basement conversion?

What basement and cellar conversions typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.

Basement and cellar conversions	Guide price incl. VAT
Existing cellar conversion	£1,900 to £3,000 per m²
New basement excavation	£4,200 to £6,600 per m²

Do you need permission for a basement conversion in Chester?

Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.

Converting an existing cellar with no external changes usually does not need planning permission in England.

What can change the price or programme?

Groundwater levels drive the waterproofing design and cost.
A pump for the drainage system needs a battery back-up.

What are the steps?

Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.

Your questions answered

How much does a basement conversion cost?

Converting an existing cellar costs about £1,900 to £3,000 per square metre including VAT. A new excavated basement is around £4,200 to £6,600 per square metre.

Does a cellar conversion need planning permission?

Usually not if nothing changes outside. New basements and lightwells often do.

Who deals with the council for a project in Chester?

We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.

Also covering

Learn more about basement and cellar conversions, or see every project we cover in Chester.