House Extension Ealing

W5 sits at the heart of Ealing in west London, taking in Ealing Broadway, Ealing Common, and North Ealing. It has long attracted families and professionals looking for a suburban feel without sacrificing a fast commute, thanks to good Underground and rail links into central London. Green spaces, independent shops, and a strong selection of schools make it a popular choice for people settling down or relocating from busier parts of the capital.

Property Types

The area is shaped by its period housing stock. Large Victorian and Edwardian houses, many semi-detached or detached, sit on wide tree-lined streets and remain highly sought after for their generous room sizes, high ceilings, and original architectural detail. Alongside these sit newer apartment blocks and purpose-built developments, particularly near the town centre, which appeal to buyers and renters wanting modern, low-maintenance living. Converted period properties split into flats add a further, more affordable route into the area for those not needing a full house.

Common Construction Projects

Because so much of the housing dates from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, extension and modernisation work is common. Loft conversions and rear or side-return extensions are frequent choices for growing families needing more space without moving. Basement digs, kitchen extensions, and full internal refurbishments are also regularly undertaken to update older layouts and services. Many of these projects require planning consideration, since numerous streets fall within conservation areas that protect the character of the original buildings.

For anyone weighing up a move to W5, the area offers a rare mix of period charm, room to grow through renovation, and strong transport connections — a combination that continues to keep demand high.

Homeowners across Ealing face a common set of challenges when extending or renovating. The borough has a large number of conservation areas, each with its own planning policies emphasising heritage preservation and design quality, and the council has been designating further areas and consulting on new Article 4 Directions to accompany them. Navigating permitted development rights, those Directions, and Ealing Council’s planning application process adds complexity most homeowners understandably don’t want to manage themselves.

Then there’s the problem of coordinating multiple contractors – structural engineers, architects, builders, electricians, plumbers – each with their own schedule, pricing, and accountability. The result is often a stressful, fragmented experience with finger-pointing when things go wrong.

Our design and build model solves this. We handle every stage of your construction project through a single contract: feasibility studies, architectural design, planning applications, building regulations approval, construction phase management, and final handover. You get one team, one point of contact, and one fixed price. No surprises, no coordination headaches, no gaps in responsibility.

Request your free site visit and consultation – we’ll assess your existing property and outline what’s achievable within your budget.

We deliver a full range of building work and home renovations for homeowners across Ealing W5 and nearby postcodes. Whether it is larger projects or small jobs, every project starts with a detailed understanding of your property, your goals, and the specific planning and site conditions that apply to your location.

Single and Double Storey Extensions

A house extension in Ealing is popular for good reason – properties here are often wider than the London average, allowing for extensions that significantly increase your living space. We design and build single storey extensions, double storey rear extensions, side-return extensions, and wrap-around schemes.

For properties outside conservation areas, permitted development allows certain extensions without planning permission – rear extensions of up to 3 metres for terraced and semi-detached homes, or 4 metres for detached properties, subject to height and boundary conditions. In conservation areas or under Article 4 Directions, full planning permission is needed for most building works. We handle the entire planning application and manage the relationship with Ealing Council on your behalf.

Our kitchen renovations and open-plan living space designs are among the most requested residential projects in Ealing, transforming cramped ground floors into bright, functional rooms filled with natural light.

Loft Conversions

Loft conversions are a common renovation in Ealing, particularly in the Victorian and Edwardian terraces found around Ealing Common, Ealing Broadway, and Northfields. These period properties have steeply pitched roofs that often provide excellent potential for extra bedrooms, home offices, or bathrooms.

Our team includes structural engineers experienced with older roof structures – inspecting rafters, calculating floor loads, and ensuring adequate headroom. We manage building regulations compliance covering fire escape routes, insulation, sound insulation, and structural safety. In conservation areas, front-facing rooflights are often restricted, so we design sensitively with rear-slope glazing that maximises natural light without compromising the streetscape.

Basement Conversions

Basement conversions offer substantial additional living space beneath your existing property, and they’re increasingly popular in higher-value areas of W5 where moving is prohibitively expensive. These are among the most technically demanding residential projects we undertake – requiring specialist waterproofing, structural retaining walls, drainage design, and careful management of party wall agreements with neighbours, which our party wall surveyors handle in parallel with the application.

Build costs for basement conversions are significantly higher per square metre than above-ground work, planning approval is typically required, and CIL is far more likely to bite given the floor area involved. Our knowledge of what Ealing Council expects means we submit applications that address drainage, structural impact, and neighbour amenity from the outset.

Whole House Renovations

For homeowners who want to reconfigure layouts, modernise systems, and transform their family home from top to bottom, our house renovation service in Ealing covers structural alterations, interior design, energy efficiency upgrades, and high-quality finishes. We work closely with you to maintain the character of period properties – preserving original features like sash windows, decorative brickwork, and ceiling mouldings – while delivering practical solutions for modern living.

Energy efficient upgrades are increasingly important, both for long term value and for meeting tightening building control requirements. We integrate improved insulation, efficient heating, and sustainable materials into every home renovation where appropriate. In conservation areas, some energy-saving improvements may require planning permission, and we advise on what’s achievable within those constraints.

What genuinely separates our service from hiring a separate architecture firm and building contractor is accountability. When one company owns the entire process – design, planning, construction – there are no gaps where problems fall between two contracts. You save time, reduce risk, and get a seamless experience from concept to completion.

• Deep understanding of Ealing’s planning landscape. The borough’s conservation areas each carry their own requirements, and Article 4 Directions remove permitted development rights on top of that. We check which apply to your specific street, what materials the council expects, and how to present an application that succeeds – including the CIL position, which changed in March 2026.
• Extensive experience with period properties. Ealing’s architecture spans Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and modern, and working with these buildings demands attention to detail that generic contractors often lack. From matching brickwork on a Victorian terrace to respecting the proportions of an Edwardian frontage, our team understands how to extend and renovate without undermining the qualities that make these homes valuable.
• Transparent fixed-price contracts. Unlike percentage-based pricing where costs escalate with every change, our fixed-price approach gives you certainty. We define exactly what’s included – foundations, structure, finishes, fixtures, external works – and build in realistic contingencies for the unknowns that older Ealing properties sometimes reveal.
• Local supplier relationships. Working across west London means established relationships with local suppliers, reducing delivery times and ensuring we can source traditional materials – period roof tiles, reclaimed brick, timber sash windows – when conservation areas demand them.

We provide services in Ealing across the borough and surrounding areas of west London, including:

• Ealing Broadway (W5) – Victorian terraces, Edwardian semis, and proximity to the town centre, with Underground, rail and Elizabeth line connections.
• West Ealing (W13) – A mix of period and inter-war properties with strong demand for home extensions and loft conversions.
• Ealing Common (W5/W3) – Period properties overlooking one of Ealing’s characteristic green spaces, much of it within conservation areas.
• Northfields (W13/W5) – A conservation area with attractive Edwardian housing stock requiring sensitive design work.
• Hanwell W7 – Family homes with good scope for extensions and whole house renovations.
• Acton W3 – Victorian and Edwardian terraces increasingly popular with homeowners investing in renovation.
• Southall (UB1/UB2) – Diverse property types with significant renovation potential.
• Perivale (UB6) – A mix of housing styles with opportunities for extensions and modernisation.

Ealing has genuine architectural range, from Art Deco frontages to substantial Victorian residential streets, and landmarks including the Grade I listed Pitzhanger Manor and Ealing Town Hall. Parkland is a defining feature – Walpole Park, Lammas Park and Pitshanger Park among them – alongside a strong local arts and community scene. We also work east into Chiswick, Shepherd’s Bush , Hammersmith, and across the wider west London area.

Our knowledge of property types, planning constraints, and conservation areas across each of these neighbourhoods means the builders in Ealing you appoint already understand the area rather than learning it on your project.

Does CIL apply to my Ealing extension?

It may, and this is new. Ealing’s Community Infrastructure Levy took effect on 1 March 2026, so any chargeable development granted permission on or after that date is liable. Residential rates are £150 per square metre across most of the borough and £300 per square metre in Central Ealing, with the Mayor of London’s CIL potentially payable in addition. Whether your particular project is chargeable depends on the floor area created, so we assess it at feasibility rather than leaving it as a surprise after consent.

How much does a house extension cost in Ealing?

Costs depend on the size and complexity of the work, the property type, ground conditions, conservation area status, and the quality of finish. Rather than quote a borough-wide rate that will not match your house, we survey the property and issue a fixed-price contract covering construction, finishes and project management, with the planning fee and any CIL liability identified separately so nothing lands unexpectedly. Compare quotes carefully and ask for a detailed written quote before committing, so it is clear what is and is not included.

How long do design and build projects take in Ealing?

Timelines vary by project type and complexity. Most householder planning applications are determined within the statutory eight-week period, though conservation area cases can take longer. Design typically takes several weeks depending on complexity, and construction ranges from a couple of months for a straightforward single storey extension to six months or more for a whole house renovation or basement conversion. Our single-contractor approach removes the scheduling gaps that occur when separate architects and builders work independently.

Do you handle planning permission in Ealing?

Yes – managing planning applications is a core part of our service. We prepare and submit all documentation, liaise with Ealing Council planning officers, and manage any amendments or conditions. We also advise on whether your project falls within permitted development rights or whether a full application or pre-application enquiry is the better route. For properties in Ealing’s conservation areas, we have extensive experience preparing applications that satisfy the stricter design and material requirements those locations demand.

What is the advantage of design and build over a separate architect and contractor?

A single contract, a single team, and a single point of accountability, which also makes choosing the right builder simpler. There’s no risk of design decisions proving unaffordable to build, no coordination failures between architect and builder, and no disputes about whose responsibility a problem is. You also get one project manager as a consistent point of contact throughout.

Start Your Ealing Design and Build Project

Whether you are an Ealing homeowner looking to bring house extension or renovation plans to life, transform your kitchen, convert your loft into extra bedrooms, or undertake a complete house renovation, our design and build service in Ealing delivers your project through one team, one contract, and one fixed price – with the planning position, Article 4 status and CIL liability established before you commit.

Contact us today for a free site visit and fixed-price quote to discuss your project.