Knock down and rebuild in Herne Bay

Covering Herne Bay

Alongside Herne Bay, we also cover Whitstable, Canterbury (7 miles to the south) and Faversham.

Homes in the South East

Many South East homes are inter-war or post-war semis and detached houses with room for rear and side extensions, while historic town centres and villages bring conservation area and listed building controls.

What does a knock down and rebuild involve?

We assess whether rebuilding is better value than extending and renovating, prepare the planning application for the replacement dwelling, manage the demolition notice and asbestos survey, then build the new home. The process runs much like a new build once the old house is cleared.

Feasibility: rebuild versus extend and renovate
Asbestos survey, demolition notice and service disconnections
Reconnection of services and landscaping

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

What approvals does a knock down and rebuild need in England?

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 should I think about before starting?

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?

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.
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.

Knock down and rebuild: common questions

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.

How long does it take?

Around 36 to 60 weeks including demolition.

Do you work in Herne Bay?

Yes. Herne Bay is within our coverage for knock down and rebuild, along with nearby Whitstable and Canterbury.

Knock down and rebuild in nearby towns

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