Knock down and rebuild in Chester

Covering Chester

Our coverage around Chester (CH1) also includes Hawarden, Deeside and Ellesmere Port.

Homes in the North West

Terraced housing is a defining feature of many North West towns, which brings party walls and narrow access into most projects, with more space to extend on suburban semis.

What does a knock down and rebuild involve?

Knock down and rebuild means demolishing an existing house and building a new one in its place, often a bungalow or poorly built post-war house replaced by a larger, more efficient home. Because the new house counts as a new dwelling, the build is usually zero-rated for VAT.

Asbestos survey, demolition notice and service disconnections
Demolition and site clearance
New foundations, structure and full fit-out

What will a knock down and rebuild cost?

Use these ranges to budget for knock down and rebuild; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.

Knock down and rebuild	Guide price
Demolition and site clearance (total)	£15,000 to £35,000
Rebuild, standard specification (per m²)	£2,100 to £2,600 per m²
Rebuild, good specification (per m²)	£2,600 to £3,100 per m²
Rebuild, high specification (per m²)	£3,100 to £3,700 per m²

How is a knock down and rebuild approved 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.

This needs full planning permission from the council.

What can affect a knock down and rebuild?

A replacement dwelling is usually zero-rated for VAT where the old house is demolished completely to ground level.
You will need somewhere to live for most of a year.

What happens after I enquire?

Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
Site visit. We walk the plot or existing house, look at access, levels, services and boundaries, and talk through what could be built.
Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.

What people ask before starting

Is it cheaper to knock down and rebuild or renovate?

It depends on the existing house. Where a house needs major structural work and a large extension, rebuilding can be similar cost and gives a better result. We compare both at feasibility.

Do I need planning permission?

Yes, for the replacement dwelling.

How do I get a price for knock down and rebuild in Chester?

Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.

Knock down and rebuild near Chester

Learn more about knock down and rebuild, or see every project we cover in Chester.