Knock down and rebuild in Oxfordshire

Covering Oxfordshire

Our coverage across Oxfordshire includes Oxford, Banbury, Abingdon and Bicester.

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 is a knock down and rebuild?

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
Demolition and site clearance
New foundations, structure and full fit-out

How much should I budget for a knock down and rebuild?

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

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

English projects need planning clearance from the local council, building regulations sign-off from building control, and party wall notices where the work is on or near a shared boundary. We prepare and manage all three.

This needs full planning permission from the council.

What should Oxfordshire homeowners check first?

Planning policy on replacement dwellings varies, especially in green belt and countryside.
Asbestos is common in post-war houses and must be removed by licensed contractors where required.

From first call to completion

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.
Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
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.

What happens about asbestos?

An asbestos survey is done before demolition and any asbestos is removed safely first.

Do you work in Oxfordshire?

Yes. Oxfordshire is within our coverage for knock down and rebuild, along with nearby Oxford and Banbury.

Also covering

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