Kitchen design and planning in Brighton

Thinking about kitchen design and planning in Brighton?

Homeowners in Brighton often ask for a design when the kitchen layout no longer suits how they live, even though the room itself is a reasonable size.

If you are about to order a kitchen online for your Brighton home, a measured plan can catch sizing errors before the order is placed. If your home is in Brighton or close by in Hove or Portslade, the same survey, quote and fitting process applies.

What is included in the work?

The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Brighton covers:

Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan
A final plan and specification to order from and fit to

What should you budget for kitchen design and planning in Brighton?

Typical kitchen design and planning prices for homes in Brighton, including VAT and adjusted for the South East. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Labour in the South East generally costs more than the UK average, which lifts these ranges a little.

What should you budget for kitchen design and planning in Brighton?
Typical project	Guide price
Design for a kitchen we supplyMeasured survey, layout plan and specification are part of the supply-and-fit price	Included
Measured drawings and layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhereMeasured drawing, layout and service positions for your fitter and supplier	£340–£1,000
Detailed design with 3D views and elevationsFor larger or open-plan kitchens	£690–£1,700

Design is included in the supply-and-fit price; for kitchens bought elsewhere, the guide prices cover the measured survey, layout drawing and service positions, with 3D views and elevations in the detailed option. The survey visit to quote is free; the fee covers the measured drawings and layout plan you can take to any supplier. Prices include VAT at 20%.

Fitting kitchens in older and newer Brighton homes

The housing mix across East Sussex includes Regency townhouses and flats, Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Regency and Victorian houses split into flats often have small kitchens in former reception rooms, while 1930s semis usually have a compact kitchen at the back.

East Sussex has hard water, so limescale builds up on taps, kettles and boiling water taps, and a filter or softener is worth considering. Seafront flats without lifts, permit parking and steep streets in the coastal towns can make delivery and waste removal slower, so access needs planning.

What rules apply to kitchen design and planning in Brighton?

Designing and fitting a kitchen needs no planning permission in England, but a good plan allows for the rules that follow. New circuits are notifiable under Part P, a cooker hood extracting outside should achieve about 30 litres per second under Approved Document F, and removing a load-bearing wall needs a structural engineer and building control approval. Listed buildings and flats may need consent before a new outside vent is cut.

Listed Regency buildings, conservation areas and homes inside the South Downs National Park may need consent for a new external vent, and flat owners usually need freeholder consent.

Getting the most from your kitchen design and planning

If you are extending or knocking through in Brighton, finalise the kitchen plan before the builder fixes drainage and power points.
If your home in East Sussex has a boiler in the kitchen, ask for service access to be designed in rather than boxed in tightly.
Ask for the plan for your Brighton kitchen to show socket, switch and light positions as well as units, so the electrician can follow it.
Leave clear walkways; common guidance is around a metre between facing runs or around an island, and more if two people cook together.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Brighton

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Brighton?

Kitchen design and planning in Brighton typically costs £340 to £1,000 including VAT for measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere, based on prices in the South East. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Do you cover all of Brighton?

Yes. We work across Brighton, including the BN2 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Hove and Portslade. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.

What is the kitchen work triangle?

The work triangle is a planning idea that links the sink, hob and fridge, keeping each within a short, unobstructed walk of the others so cooking takes fewer steps. It is still a useful check, but many kitchens are now planned in zones for preparation, cooking, washing and storage, which suits larger and open-plan rooms where more than one person uses the space.

Which kitchen layout suits my room?

It depends mainly on the shape of the room, where the doors and windows sit and how many people cook. Narrow rooms suit a galley, rooms with a corner suit an L-shape, and wider rooms can take a U-shape. An island needs space for walkways of around a metre on each side, and a peninsula gives similar worktop space where an island will not fit.

What are the standard sizes of kitchen units and worktops?

Base units are typically 600 mm deep, with worktops around 900 mm from the floor, though the plinth height can raise or lower this slightly. Unit widths come in standard steps, commonly from 150 mm up to 1,000 mm, and wall units are shallower, often around 300 to 350 mm deep. A plan built on real measurements uses filler panels to take up any leftover space.

Nearby places we cover

The same service is available a short drive from Brighton, including: