Covering Westhoughton
Alongside Westhoughton, we also cover Atherton, Hindley (3 miles to the south-west) and Tyldesley.
Homes in the North West
Across the North West, Victorian terraces, inter-war semis and modern estates all feature, and brick or stone matching is chosen to suit each street.
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
- Reconnection of services and landscaping
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 |
Planning and building rules in Westhoughton
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.
- Asbestos is common in post-war houses and must be removed by licensed contractors where required.
What happens after I enquire?
- 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.
- Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
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.
What happens about asbestos?
An asbestos survey is done before demolition and any asbestos is removed safely first.
Who deals with the council for a project in Westhoughton?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Also covering
- Knock down and rebuild in Atherton
- Knock down and rebuild in Hindley
- Knock down and rebuild in Tyldesley
- Knock down and rebuild in Leigh
Learn more about knock down and rebuild, or see every project we cover in Westhoughton.

