Knock down and rebuild in Derby

Covering Derby

We work in Derby (DE1) and the places around it, including Belper, Ilkeston and Heanor.

Homes in the East Midlands

Housing in the East Midlands includes Victorian terraces, inter-war semis and newer estates, with stone-built villages in some areas where conservation controls apply.

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.

Feasibility: rebuild versus extend and renovate
Planning application for the replacement dwelling
Asbestos survey, demolition notice and service disconnections

What will a knock down and rebuild cost?

Indicative costs for knock down and rebuild. London and the South East usually sit towards the top of each range.

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 Derby?

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 should Derby homeowners check first?

A replacement dwelling is usually zero-rated for VAT where the old house is demolished completely to ground level.
Planning policy on replacement dwellings varies, especially in green belt and countryside.

What happens after I enquire?

Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
Site visit. We walk the plot or existing house, look at access, levels, services and boundaries, and talk through what could be built.
Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.

Knock down and rebuild: common questions

Is VAT charged on a knock down and rebuild?

Usually not on the new house, if the old one is demolished completely and the new building is a qualifying dwelling.

Do I need planning permission?

Yes, for the replacement dwelling.

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

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

Also covering

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