Basement conversion and construction in Earl’s Court.

Chelsea · SW3 · Chelsea terraced houseCompleted work, photograph

Earl’s Court basements are mostly about lower ground flats. We say early what CD11 allows, and what it does not.

Earl’s Court basements start at the lower ground.

CD11: One storey, under half the garden
Listed: No digging beneath, vaults included
HO1: Two flats may not become one

NU Projects is a design and build company in Fulham SW6, founded in 2010. We handle basement conversion and construction in Earl’s Court SW5, under one contract. A new basement dig typically runs £500k to £900k. Converting an existing basement runs £180k to £300k. Call 020 7731 6841, and a budget estimate typically follows within seven days.

Earl’s Court is tall stucco terraces and red brick mansion blocks. Most were split into flats long ago.

So the usual basement brief is a lower ground flat wanting more room. Sometimes old cellars or vaults already exist.

Policy CD11 allows one storey of basement, under no more than half the garden. Converting existing space is often the realistic route.

Under a listed building, no excavation is allowed at all. That includes its vaults.

Policy HO1 does not let homes be merged. So a lower ground flat cannot simply join the flat above.

What the council allows in Earl’s Court.

Council: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, under its Local Plan 2024.
Policy CD11: One storey of basement, under no more than half of each garden.
Listed houses: No excavation under a listed building, including its vaults.
Flats: Policy HO1 does not allow existing self-contained homes to be merged into one.
Flood risk: Every basement in the borough needs a flood risk assessment.
On site: A Construction Traffic Management Plan goes in with the application.