Covering Leigh
Our coverage around Leigh (WN7) also includes Atherton, Tyldesley and Golborne.
Homes in the North West
The North West has long rows of Victorian terraced houses in its towns and cities, alongside inter-war semis and post-war estates, so rear extensions, dormer lofts and kitchen extensions are common projects.
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
- New foundations, structure and full fit-out
- 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 |
Planning and building rules in Leigh
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.
- Asbestos is common in post-war houses and must be removed by licensed contractors where required.
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.
- Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
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.
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.
Who deals with the council for a project in Leigh?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Other towns nearby
- Knock down and rebuild in Atherton
- Knock down and rebuild in Tyldesley
- Knock down and rebuild in Golborne
- Knock down and rebuild in Westhoughton
Learn more about knock down and rebuild, or see every project we cover in Leigh.