If you ask most homeowners how their property could be made better, most would ask for more space. But in an uncertain property market moving house may not be an attractive option. You can of course extend, but that isn’t always easy. Perhaps you’re already using the loft and maybe you don’t want to sacrifice outside space to a conventional …
Over many decades, the value of space in London has risen and is continuing to rise. The real costs and benefits of developing a basement in London depend substantially on how market values per square metre continue to change, so developers need to keep an eye on how trends vary from area to area. Regeneration plans, transport improvements, social fashions …
If you extend your home with a loft conversion or a conventional extension, the chances are that you will have to get planning permission. But does the same apply to basements? The answer depends on what you’re planning to do. Existing Basements Converting an existing basement or cellar into living space is, in most cases, not likely to need you …
The kind of gas we mean isn’t the type that feeds your boiler or hob – we would hope that any half-competent builder has established the route of the gas main and other services before they put a shovel to the ground. Nor is it the kind that miners fear; you’d have to go much deeper for that. But there …
Whilst the public are aware of dangers such as silicosis to industrial workers, they are largely in the dark about the dangerous dusts that accumulate in their own homes. Household dust can pose serious risks to home owners and families in addition to basement construction workers. Basement companies in London are not responsible for the dust – it is there …
There are things workers really do not want to discover when they start excavating. When work was underway on the site of the old Liverpool Street Station, for example, as many as eight bodies per cubic metre of excavated clay were discovered. Workers creating a new entry for Bank tube station had a similar experience: where the ticket office now …
Whatever you need to extend for, if you live in a city your options can be limited. You won’t want to lose any of your precious outdoor space to a conventional extension, and planning restrictions may prevent you from converting the loft. It’s no surprise then that many people are opting to extend downwards. This may mean converting an existing …
Earlier this month the Housing Implementation Taskforce was convened for its maiden meeting, signalling the start of the government’s latest attempt to tackle the lack of affordable accommodation across the UK. The Evening Standard reports that the existence of this group is a sign that politicians are beginning to think seriously about the housing crisis, which is most acutely felt …
London’s latest entertainment experience has just launched, with the newly created Studio 88 setting out to offer punters something a little different to the usual live music event, according to PSN Europe. Like many of the capital’s most iconic venues, it is built into the basement of a building on Whitcomb Street in the heart of the city’s entertainment district. …
The UK housing market is all about property size, although our homes are some of the smallest in Europe. Any home improvement that allows you to lose a group of noisy teenagers or host a toddlers tea party or your book group with space to spare will make your property more attractive when it goes on the market. As property …
