Design and build, Fulham to South Kensington

NU Projects serves homeowners planning a premium renovation in Fulham, Chelsea or South Kensington. One senior led team covers architecture, planning and interior design. It also covers cost control, construction and handover. We were founded in 2010 and are based in Fulham. We understand the homes and planning constraints across prime West London. We also understand the level of finish expected there.

The direct answer

Why use one design and build team in Fulham, Chelsea or South Kensington? One party then controls the journey from the first idea to the final detail. Our design decisions are informed by buildability. Our cost plans evolve with the design. Our construction team understands the intent before work begins.

Joined up working is particularly valuable in period townhouses, mansion apartments and conservation areas. There, planning, structure, services, neighbours, access and craftsmanship must be coordinated from the start.

What does a complete design and build service include?

A genuine design and build service is much more than a builder. Appointing one after the drawings are complete is not the same thing. NU Projects brings the essential disciplines together under one clear programme.

• Initial consultation, project brief and measured survey
• Feasibility advice and early planning strategy
• Architecture, space planning and interior design
• Structural and mechanical and electrical coordination
• Detailed specifications, cost planning and procurement
• Planning applications, building regulations and party wall coordination
• Construction, bespoke joinery, installation and decoration
• Testing, commissioning, handover and aftercare

The result is a home conceived as one complete project. It is not a collection of disconnected appointments.

Design and build in Fulham

Fulham is rich in Victorian and Edwardian terraces. They can be transformed through intelligent reconfiguration and side return extensions. Rear extensions, loft conversions and basement works can transform them too. Good projects retain the rhythm and character of the original house. They also create light, storage and circulation that suit modern family life.

Local knowledge matters. Parts of the borough sit within conservation areas. Permitted development rights can be restricted or removed. Basement excavation requires planning permission in Hammersmith and Fulham. NU Projects considers these constraints during feasibility. That is before the design and budget travel too far in the wrong direction.

Homeowners can check the current local guidance on the Hammersmith and Fulham planning website. We then turn the rules, property and your ambitions into a coordinated route forward.

Design and build in Chelsea

Chelsea projects demand discretion, disciplined detailing and a strong understanding of heritage. Townhouses, mews homes and mansion apartments may involve listed building considerations. Conservation area controls, freeholder approvals and licences to alter may apply too. Access may need careful management as well.

Our team coordinates architecture, interiors and construction. That way, beautiful finishes do not conceal compromises in services, ventilation, lighting or storage. Every junction is considered. Every material is specified for the way the home will actually be lived in.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea provides a planning constraints map. It covers conservation areas, listed buildings and Article 4 directions. We use the relevant constraints to shape an informed project strategy.

Design and build in South Kensington

South Kensington combines grand stucco terraces, listed houses and apartments. Space can be valuable and complex. A successful renovation often depends on precise surveys, sensitive planning and acoustic consideration. Fire safety, upgraded building services and highly resolved bespoke joinery matter too.

NU Projects approaches these homes with respect for their architecture. It also brings confidence about contemporary living. We aim for rooms that feel effortless. That holds even when the technical work behind them is extensive.

Why one accountable team produces a better home

Traditional procurement can leave the homeowner between separate designers, consultants and contractors. When information changes, responsibility becomes unclear. Design and build creates a single line of accountability.

• Earlier cost visibility because the construction team contributes during design
• Fewer gaps between drawings, specifications and site delivery
• Better coordination of structure, heating, cooling, lighting and joinery
• Faster decisions through one project leadership team
• Consistent quality control from concept through completion
• A clearer programme, reporting structure and handover

Integration does not mean reducing design ambition. At NU Projects it means making ambitious design deliverable.

Senior leadership throughout your project

NU Projects is led by people from both sides of premium residential work. They work on the creative side and the commercial side. Nick Jeffries is the founder. Matt Coverley is the quantity surveyor, and prices the work. Wayne Hockham is the MEP director. He coordinates the systems that make a high end home comfortable and reliable.

This senior involvement is one of the reasons clients choose NU Projects. The people responsible for quality, cost and technical performance remain close to the project.

How a project runs here

1. Consultation and brief

We discuss your property, priorities, timescale, style and investment level. The aim is to identify what success looks like before drawing begins.

2. Survey and feasibility

We review the existing building, planning context, structural opportunities, access and early risks. This creates a dependable foundation for design.

3. Concept design and planning

Layouts, architecture and interior direction develop together. Where permission is required, we prepare and coordinate the appropriate application.

4. Cost planning and technical design

The design is resolved through specifications, structural input, building services and cost planning. Decisions are made with full awareness of their visual, practical and commercial effect.

5. Procurement and construction

Our team programmes the work, procures specialist packages and manages the site. Progress, quality and decisions are communicated clearly.

6. Commissioning, handover and aftercare

Systems are tested and finishes are inspected. The completed home is handed over with the information you need. Our relationship continues through aftercare.

What should a West London renovation budget include?

Every property and brief is different. So a confident budget should be built around the actual project. It should not rest on a generic square metre headline. A complete appraisal may include design and consultant fees, surveys, planning and structural work. It may also include construction, mechanical and electrical systems, joinery and finishes. Specialist installations, contingency and VAT may sit in it too.

NU Projects develops cost information alongside the design. That allows choices to be made early and deliberately. It protects the elements that matter most.

For a detailed framework, read our London home renovation cost guide.

Planning, building regulations and party walls

Planning permission and building regulations are different. Planning considers the development and its effect on the property and surrounding area. Building regulations cover matters such as structure, fire safety, ventilation, drainage and energy performance. Depending on the work, a party wall process may also be required.

Useful official references include the Government approved documents and the Government party wall guidance. NU Projects coordinates the relevant professional team. These requirements then support the project rather than becoming late surprises.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the right design and build company in Fulham, Chelsea and South Kensington?

Whichever one can show you finished local work and name who owns each risk. It should also hand you a cost plan you can read. NU Projects offers premium design, cost control and construction from one West London team. That is a different proposition from a building contractor working to somebody else’s drawings.

What is the difference between a builder and a design and build company?

A builder normally delivers work from an existing design. A design and build company can manage architecture, planning, interiors and technical coordination. It also handles costing and construction, all as one service. This reduces gaps between design intent and site delivery.

Can NU Projects manage planning permission?

Yes. We establish the planning context and coordinate the design. We then manage the appropriate application with the required specialists. Listed buildings, conservation areas and basement proposals need particular care.

Can NU Projects deliver extensions, basements and whole house renovations?

Yes. Our work includes extensions, basement projects, complete townhouse refurbishments and apartment renovations. It also includes kitchens, bathrooms, bespoke joinery and high performance mechanical and electrical systems.

How long does a premium renovation take?

The programme depends on the property, approvals, design complexity, procurement and construction scope. We build a project specific programme. It covers design, permissions, technical work, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.

When should I appoint NU Projects?

The earlier the better. Early involvement allows planning, buildability, services and cost to influence the design. That happens before key decisions become expensive to change.

Start your project

Are you considering a renovation, extension, basement or complete transformation? If it is in Fulham, Chelsea or South Kensington, speak to NU Projects. Do it before you commit to a fragmented route. We will listen carefully and identify the opportunities. We will give your project the senior attention it deserves.

Book your initial consultation with NU Projects. Or call 020 7731 6841 or email through the contact form. Tell us what you are trying to achieve. We will tell you what it involves.