Basement Conversions in Belgravia, SW1X
Cellar and basement conversions in Belgravia: dry, habitable rooms below ground with designed waterproofing, natural light and building control approval.
Covered under one contract
- Structural design and calculations
- Planning or lawful development certificate
- New staircase, dormer and roof windows
- Insulation, fire safety and building control
- En-suite designed and fitted
- Waterproofing with guarantee for basements
Basement Conversions in Belgravia.
Where a house cannot grow outwards or upwards, it can grow downwards. Many of the older houses in Belgravia already have a cellar or vaults, and converting them into a usable floor is a well-established route to a utility room, guest suite, study or cinema room.
The two things that decide whether a basement works are waterproofing and light. We use a designed system, normally a cavity drainage membrane with a sump and pump, which carries a guarantee, and we bring light in through a lightwell or a rear opening where the site allows. Ceiling height, drainage and structure are all surveyed at the outset.
Converting an existing cellar without changing the exterior of the house does not usually need planning permission. Lightwells, listed buildings and new excavation do, and the central London boroughs have their own basement policies with impact assessments. All basements need building regulations approval and most involve party wall notices, which we prepare and serve.
- Area
- Belgravia, SW1X · SW1W
- Council
- City of Westminster
- Housing
- Grade II listed white stucco terraces and squares by Thomas Cubitt, mews houses, embassies converted back to homes, and apartments
- Transport
- Sloane Square, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner
- Basement, existing cellar
- 10 to 16 weeks
- Consent
- Often permitted development for lofts
- Waterproofing
- Guaranteed system, designed for the site
Belgravia: the houses and the planning rules.
Belgravia was built by Thomas Cubitt for the Grosvenor estate in the 1820s and 1830s and it has barely changed since: cream stucco terraces around Eaton Square, Belgrave Square and Chester Square, with cobbled mews behind. The whole district is a conservation area, most houses are listed, and the Grosvenor estate remains the freeholder of much of it.
Work here is nearly always to a listed building, which means listed building consent, a heritage statement and an approach that treats the historic fabric as the priority. Within that we fit kitchens, bathrooms, joinery and services to modern standards, and convert mews houses into complete homes.
The Belgravia Conservation Area covers the whole district, and the majority of the houses are Grade II or II* listed.
Westminster City Council
Westminster decides planning and listed building applications for the whole of Belgravia, with detailed conservation area guidance and long-standing policies on roof extensions and basements.
Grosvenor estate
Grosvenor's own consent is required for most alterations on the estate, with its own design guidance and surveyors.
Listed interiors
Cornices, staircases, chimneypieces and joinery are part of the listing; changes need consent and specialist trades.
Approvals for basement conversions in Belgravia.
Converting an existing cellar without altering the exterior does not usually need planning permission; lightwells, listed buildings and new excavation do. Every basement needs building regulations approval and a designed waterproofing system, and most involve party wall notices.
Westminster decides planning and listed building applications for the whole of Belgravia, with detailed conservation area guidance and long-standing policies on roof extensions and basements.
What basement conversions in Belgravia includes.
- Structural design and calculations
- Planning or lawful development certificate
- New staircase, dormer and roof windows
- Insulation, fire safety and building control
- En-suite designed and fitted
- Waterproofing with guarantee for basements
From site visit to handover.
- 01
Site visit & consultation
We visit, listen and measure. Brief, budget and constraints understood before any advice is given.
- 02
Design & itemised quote
Our architects and engineers draw the scheme, and from that we provide a transparent, itemised quotation for your approval.
- 03
Planning & approvals
Planning applications, building control and party wall matters handled for you.
- 04
Build, managed weekly
Our own trades, sequenced by a site manager. Progress reported every week.
- 05
Handover & aftercare
Joint snagging walk-through, documentation, and a guarantee on our workmanship.
Basement Conversions in Belgravia: your questions.
Can I convert a cellar in Belgravia?
Usually. Converting an existing cellar without changing the outside of the house does not normally need planning permission. Lightwells, listed buildings and new excavation do, and every basement needs building regulations approval.
How do you keep a converted basement dry?
With a designed waterproofing system, typically a cavity drainage membrane with a sump and pump, or tanking where appropriate. It carries a guarantee and is designed for the ground conditions found on site.
Which parts of Belgravia do you cover?
All of Belgravia and SW1X · SW1W, including Eaton Square, Chester Square, Belgrave Square, Elizabeth Street, Eaton Terrace, Chester Row, and the neighbouring districts. We are based in London and our teams work across central, north, north-west, west and south-west London.
Other services in Belgravia.
House Refurbishment in Belgravia
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Flat Refurbishment in Belgravia
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House Extensions in Belgravia
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Structural Alterations in Belgravia
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Loft Conversions in Belgravia
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Kitchen Renovation in Belgravia
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Bathroom Renovation in Belgravia
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Bespoke Joinery & Fitted Furniture in Belgravia
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Architectural & Interior Design in Belgravia
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Planning Permission & Building Regulations in Belgravia
Read moreBasement Conversions across London.
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All of North-West LondonTalk to us about a basement conversion in Belgravia.
We will visit, listen and explain what is possible for your property and how it would be approved. No pressure, no sales pitch.