Design and build in Fulham, Chelsea and South Kensington

For homeowners planning a premium renovation in Fulham, Chelsea or South Kensington, NU Projects provides one senior led team for architecture, planning, interior design, cost control, construction and handover. Founded in 2010 and based in Fulham, we understand the homes, planning constraints and level of finish expected across prime West London.

The direct answer

The reason to use one design and build team in Fulham, Chelsea or South Kensington is that 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, and our construction team understands the intent before work begins.

That joined up approach is particularly valuable in period townhouses, mansion apartments and conservation areas, where 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 appointing a builder after drawings have been completed. 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, rather than a collection of disconnected appointments.

Design and build in Fulham

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

Local knowledge matters. Parts of the borough sit within conservation areas and permitted development rights can be restricted or removed. Basement excavation requires planning permission in Hammersmith and Fulham. NU Projects considers these constraints during feasibility, 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, the 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, licences to alter and carefully managed access.

Our team coordinates architecture, interiors and construction so that 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 covering 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, acoustic consideration, fire safety, upgraded building services and highly resolved bespoke joinery.

NU Projects approaches these homes with respect for their architecture and confidence about contemporary living. We aim for rooms that feel effortless, 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 who work on both the creative and the commercial side of premium residential work. Nick Jeffries is the founder. Matt Coverley is the quantity surveyor, and prices the work. Wayne Hockham is the MEP director, and 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, finishes are inspected and 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 rather than a generic square metre headline. A complete appraisal may include design and consultant fees, surveys, planning, structural work, construction, mechanical and electrical systems, joinery, finishes, specialist installations, contingency and VAT.

NU Projects develops cost information alongside the design. That allows choices to be made early and deliberately, protecting 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 so these requirements 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, name who owns each risk and hand you a cost plan you can read. NU Projects offers premium design, cost control and construction from one West London team, which 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, technical coordination, costing and construction as one service. This reduces gaps between design intent and site delivery.

Can NU Projects manage planning permission?

Yes. We establish the planning context, coordinate the design and 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, apartment renovations, 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 covering 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 before key decisions become expensive to change.

Start your project

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

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