Covering Durham
Durham sits 17 miles north of Darlington, with Chester-le-Street 6 miles to the north and Houghton-le-Spring 6 miles to the north-east.
Homes in the North East
Housing across the North East ranges from colliery terraces and Tyneside flats to suburban semis and modern estates, each with different options for extending.
What is included in a knock down and rebuild in Durham?
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.
- Demolition and site clearance
- New foundations, structure and full fit-out
- Reconnection of services and landscaping
What is the guide price for a knock down and rebuild in Durham?
Typical ranges for knock down and rebuild. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.
| 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 Durham?
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. We prepare the drawings and supporting documents, submit the application and respond to the planning officer.
What can change the price or programme?
- A replacement dwelling is usually zero-rated for VAT where the old house is demolished completely to ground level.
- Asbestos is common in post-war houses and must be removed by licensed contractors where required.
What are the steps?
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- 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.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
What people ask before starting
Do I need planning permission?
Yes, for the replacement dwelling.
What happens about asbestos?
An asbestos survey is done before demolition and any asbestos is removed safely first.
Do you work in Durham?
Yes. Durham is within our coverage for knock down and rebuild, along with nearby Chester-le-Street and Houghton-le-Spring.
Other towns nearby
- Knock down and rebuild in Chester-le-Street
- Knock down and rebuild in Houghton-le-Spring
- Knock down and rebuild in Stanley
- Knock down and rebuild in Washington
Learn more about knock down and rebuild, or see every project we cover in Durham.