Builders in Putney | Renovations, Extensions & Conversions SW15
Building and Renovation in Putney
Dominant Construction is an FMB-registered building contractor with 15+ years delivering residential renovation, extension, and conversion projects across Putney and South West London. We manage the entire build — structural alterations, council liaison, specialist trades, and finishing — working directly with homeowners, property investors, and architects throughout SW15.
Our work in Putney covers full house renovation and structural remodelling, rear and side return extensions, basement construction and waterproofing, loft and roof-space conversions, structural steelwork, underpinning, bespoke joinery, and the restoration of period features where they contribute to the property's character.
House Renovations in Putney
Putney's streets cover a wide range of property types. The Victorian terraces between Putney High Street and East Putney station are compact and densely laid out, while the Edwardian and early twentieth-century houses around West Putney, Putney Heath, and towards Roehampton sit on larger plots with more generous proportions. Closer to the river, the properties along Putney Embankment and Lower Richmond Road include period houses with river frontage alongside more recent apartment buildings.
A renovation in Putney starts with what the property actually needs — not a standard specification applied to every house. Opening-up surveys establish the condition of the structure, the extent of previous alterations, and whether the property sits within a conservation area or carries any heritage listing. Where original features remain — Victorian or Edwardian joinery, decorative plasterwork, tiled hallways, original fireplaces — we retain and restore rather than replace, matching materials to the existing build.
On full renovations we handle the programme from strip-out through to handover: structural alterations and steelwork, new layouts, kitchen and bathroom fit-outs, full rewiring and replumbing, heating system upgrades, plastering, bespoke joinery, decorating, and snagging.
How Much Does a Renovation Cost in Putney?
Renovation costs in Putney reflect the variety of the housing stock — from compact two-bedroom Victorian terraces through to large Edwardian houses on substantial plots. A cosmetic refresh with no structural changes generally starts from £28,000. A full house renovation — rewiring, replumbing, new kitchens and bathrooms, bespoke joinery — typically runs £130,000 to £350,000, increasing where basement work, structural remodelling, or conservation area constraints are involved.
Renovation type
Kitchen renovation
Every quote includes design fees, construction and labour, materials, and any permit or inspection costs required by Wandsworth Council. Period properties in Putney regularly reveal earlier alterations — removed chimney breasts, undersized joists, outdated electrics — once strip-out begins. Contingency is built into every estimate for exactly this reason.
House Extensions in Putney
Putney's terraces and larger houses offer varying scope for extending. The Victorian terraces closer to the High Street tend to have compact rear gardens and narrow side passages, while the Edwardian and interwar properties around West Putney and towards Putney Heath often sit on deeper, wider plots with more room to work with. All schemes within conservation areas require full planning permission, and the council pays close attention to the proportions and materials of any addition visible from the street or neighbouring properties.
Extension Options for Putney Properties
Rear extensions — the most common route across Putney's terraces and family houses, extending the ground floor into the rear garden. Flat-roofed and pitched-roof designs are both used, depending on the property style and planning context.
Side return extensions — infilling the narrow passage alongside the kitchen on Victorian and Edwardian terraces. Particularly effective on the streets between East Putney and Putney Bridge stations, where the side return is typically underused.
Wraparound extensions — combining rear and side return into one scheme. Best suited to the wider-fronted properties around West Putney, Chartfield Avenue, and the roads leading towards Putney Common.
Double-storey extensions — extending at both ground and first floor to add significant space. These draw closer scrutiny from the council, particularly where the additional massing affects the street scene or neighbours' light and outlook.
What Affects Extension Cost in Putney
The factors that determine extension cost in Putney include:
- Size, layout, and structural requirements
- Extension type — rear, side return, wraparound, or double-storey
- Materials and finishes — brick matching, glazing specification, roofing
- Planning permission requirements (full application is standard in conservation areas)
- Listed building consent, where the property carries a listing
- Party wall agreements with adjoining neighbours
- Site access — terraced streets with restricted parking and narrow side access
Rear extensions in Putney typically cost £78,000 to £195,000; side return conversions £48,000 to £95,000; wraparound extensions £120,000 to £270,000; double-storey extensions £170,000 to £350,000.
Loft Conversions in Putney
Many of Putney's Victorian and Edwardian properties have roof spaces with enough volume for a full additional floor — particularly the larger houses around West Putney and Putney Heath, where steeper roof pitches create more usable headroom. Properties within conservation areas need full planning permission for any roofline alteration, and listed buildings require Listed Building Consent on top.
Loft Conversion Styles for Putney Homes
Mansard conversion — the approach that creates the most additional headroom, well-suited to the larger Edwardian properties where a rear mansard can be designed without disrupting the street-facing elevation.
Dormer conversion — the standard choice for Putney's Victorian terraces, adding usable space across the rear roof slope without altering the front roofline.
L-shaped dormer — combines a rear dormer with a side section over the back addition, maximising floor area within the existing roof footprint.
Roof light (Velux) conversion — the least invasive option, suited to properties where the existing ridge height already provides workable headroom and no structural roofline changes are needed.
Loft Conversion Costs in Putney
Conversion Type
Costs in Putney reflect the conservation area requirements that apply across much of SW15, the design work needed for roofline changes on tightly spaced terraces, and the access limitations on streets with restricted parking.
Basement Conversions in Putney
Basement conversions add living space — home offices, gyms, media rooms, or additional reception rooms — beneath an existing property without changing its above-ground footprint. In Putney, many Victorian and Edwardian houses have existing cellars or lower-ground floors that can be converted, while new excavation beneath properties without existing below-ground space is also possible subject to planning.
What Affects Basement Cost in Putney
The London Borough of Wandsworth requires planning permission for basement and subterranean developments. The council assesses each application on its structural impact, the effect on groundwater and drainage, and the impact on neighbouring properties. Party wall agreements under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 are required where excavation takes place within or adjacent to a shared boundary.
Project Type
Cost is determined by excavation depth and underpinning method, waterproofing system — typically Type C cavity drain tanking to BS 8102 — ventilation and natural light design, structural complexity including party wall agreements, and the specification of finishes.
Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings and Planning
Putney falls within the London Borough of Wandsworth, which has 46 conservation areas borough-wide and approximately 500 listed buildings. Several conservation areas cover streets within Putney itself, including Putney Embankment, the Dover House Estate, West Putney, Clarendon Drive, and Deodar Road.
- Full planning permission is required for external alterations, extensions, and roofline changes within conservation areas
- Listed Building Consent is required where the property is listed — covering internal as well as external alterations
- Planning permission is required for all basement and subterranean developments
- Party wall agreements are needed where work is adjacent to or within shared boundaries
- Pre-application advice from Wandsworth Council costs £420 for a meeting with written response, or £140 for written advice only; listed building pre-application advice carries a £280 surcharge
We handle planning liaison as part of the project, working alongside the architect where one is appointed — establishing what the council will accept before the design is developed further than it needs to be.
Working With Architects and Property Investors
We work regularly as main contractor within architect-led residential schemes across Putney and the wider Wandsworth borough. For architects, that means a building team that reads drawings carefully, coordinates specialist trades, and raises buildability or specification issues before they become problems on site. For property investors, the focus is on programme management, cost control, and delivering a finished property at the level the SW15 market expects.
Larger projects are administered under JCT contracts, providing a recognised framework for scope, payments, variations, and programme management.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need planning permission for a renovation in Putney?
Internal renovations of non-listed buildings generally do not require planning permission, though Building Regulations apply to any structural or services work. Any external alteration within one of Putney's conservation areas will require a full planning application. Listed buildings need Listed Building Consent for both internal and external work.
Can I convert my basement in Putney?
Yes, subject to planning permission. Wandsworth Council assesses basement applications on their structural impact, effect on groundwater and drainage, and impact on neighbouring properties. Party wall agreements are required where excavation takes place near shared boundaries.
How long does a full house renovation take in Putney?
A full house renovation typically runs 4 to 7 months. Projects involving basement excavation, structural remodelling, or listed building consent realistically extend to 8 to 13 months including the planning stage.
Do listed buildings require additional consent?
Yes. Any alteration affecting the character of a listed building requires Listed Building Consent in addition to planning permission. In Wandsworth, this covers internal work as well as external changes. Pre-application advice for listed buildings carries a £280 surcharge above the standard fee.
What size projects do you take on?
We handle projects from single-room renovations and loft conversions through to full house renovations, multi-storey extensions, and basement excavations across Putney and South West London.
Plan Your Putney Project
If you are considering renovation, extension, or conversion work in Putney, the first step is understanding the property — its structural condition, planning context, and what can realistically be achieved within the council's framework. Dominant Construction works with homeowners, property investors, and architects on residential projects across Putney and South West London.
Call 020 7118 6155 for a free consultation and site survey, visit us at 185 Fulham Palace Road, W6 8QX, or see recent projects at dominantconstruction.co.uk.
Dominant Construction LTD 185 Fulham Palace Road, Fulham, London W6 8QX 020 7118 6155 | info@dominantconstruction.co.uk FMB Registered | 15+ years' experience | JCT Contract Experience
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+44 20 71186155
info@dominantconstruction.co.uk