Covering Swaffham
Swaffham sits 26 miles west of Norwich, with King's Lynn 14 miles to the north-west and Thetford 16 miles to the south.
Homes in the East of England
Housing in the East of England ranges from post-war estates and modern developments to timber-framed and period homes in historic towns, so permitted development checks and conservation controls both feature regularly.
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.
- Demolition and site clearance
- New foundations, structure and full fit-out
- Reconnection of services and landscaping
What will a knock down and rebuild cost?
Guide prices for knock down and rebuild, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the survey.
| 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 Swaffham?
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 I think about before starting?
- A replacement dwelling is usually zero-rated for VAT where the old house is demolished completely to ground level.
- Planning policy on replacement dwellings varies, especially in green belt and countryside.
From first call to completion
- 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.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
What people ask before starting
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.
How long does it take?
Around 36 to 60 weeks including demolition.
Can you visit a house in Swaffham to quote?
Yes. After a short call we arrange a site visit to measure up and agree what the design needs to do, then send a written price.
Other towns nearby
- Knock down and rebuild in King's Lynn
- Knock down and rebuild in Thetford
- Knock down and rebuild in Wisbech
- Knock down and rebuild in Norwich
Learn more about knock down and rebuild, or see every project we cover in Swaffham.

