Covering Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey sits 21 miles west of Chelmsford, with Cheshunt 1 miles to the north-west and Chingford 4 miles to the south.
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 goes into 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.
- Demolition and site clearance
- New foundations, structure and full fit-out
- Reconnection of services and landscaping
What will a knock down and rebuild cost?
Typical ranges for knock down and rebuild. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.
| 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 Waltham Abbey
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
What happens about asbestos?
An asbestos survey is done before demolition and any asbestos is removed safely first.
Do you work in Waltham Abbey?
Yes. Waltham Abbey is within our coverage for knock down and rebuild, along with nearby Cheshunt and Chingford.
Other towns nearby
- Knock down and rebuild in Cheshunt
- Knock down and rebuild in Chingford
- Knock down and rebuild in Enfield
- Knock down and rebuild in Edmonton
Learn more about knock down and rebuild, or see every project we cover in Waltham Abbey.

