Covering St Albans
Alongside St Albans, we also cover Harpenden (5 miles to the north), Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead.
Homes in the East of England
The East of England has a large stock of post-war and modern estate housing alongside period homes in market towns, which makes garage conversions, single-storey extensions and loft conversions popular.
What do you get with 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.
- Asbestos survey, demolition notice and service disconnections
- New foundations, structure and full fit-out
- Reconnection of services and landscaping
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 |
Planning and building rules in St Albans
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 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.
From first call to completion
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- 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.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
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.
How do I get a price for knock down and rebuild in St Albans?
Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.
Knock down and rebuild in nearby towns
- Knock down and rebuild in Harpenden
- Knock down and rebuild in Hatfield
- Knock down and rebuild in Hemel Hempstead
- Knock down and rebuild in Welwyn Garden City
Learn more about knock down and rebuild, or see every project we cover in St Albans.