basement contractor London

Basement Planning Regulations

Beware builders who assure you it is safe to start your basement conversion without planning permission. There have been recent cases of builders bamboozling clients by saying they are approved to BS8102, so everything is okay. BS8102 is a code defining adequate waterproofing, and that’s all it is. By no means does it cover all the regulations you need to …

Basement conversion

Subterranean London Being Mapped by University Researchers

Havona House in Pembridge Villas is on sale, and has become Notting Hill’s most expensive property listing. It’s on the market at £25m and one of its key selling features is its amazing two level basement conversion, reckoned to be one of the largest in London (that is until another billionaire comes along determined to have a bigger one).  The …

Hidden secrets of the mega-basements

A new study by the University of Newcastle has exposed the secrets of London’s mega-basements, which include cinemas, swimming pools, and even an artificial beach. The planning application data, collected from seven London boroughs for the period between 2008 and 2017, shows blueprints for 115 staff rooms, 456 cinemas, 376 pools, 381 wine cellars and 1,000 gyms hidden below the …

Heavy Equipment for Basement Construction

One question everyone planning a basement construction asks is: “How long will it take?” Obviously, this depends on the scale of the project and whether it is a new-build, beneath an existing property or a basement extension under adjoining land. One thing is certain, however: it is a lot quicker than it used to be. A cubic metre of soil …