Kitchen design and planning in Christchurch

Why do people in Christchurch choose kitchen design and planning?

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

Families across Dorset sometimes want a layout that lets two people cook at the same time, which changes how the working zones and walkways are planned. If your home is in Christchurch or close by in Bournemouth or New Milton, the same survey, quote and fitting process applies.

What does kitchen design and planning in Christchurch include?

Your written quote lists everything included. For kitchen design and planning, that normally means:

Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
A final plan and specification to order from and fit to
Socket, switch, lighting and extraction positions marked for the electrician
Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan

Guide prices for kitchen design and planning in Christchurch

The figures below are guide prices for Christchurch, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South West. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices across the South West are broadly in line with UK averages.

Guide prices for kitchen design and planning in Christchurch
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	£310–£930
Detailed design with 3D views and elevationsFor larger or open-plan kitchens	£620–£1,500

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%.

Local homes and their kitchens

In and around Christchurch, homes range across thatched cottages, Victorian and Edwardian villas, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows. Edwardian villas in Bournemouth often have a separate kitchen and scullery, while 1930s semis and bungalows tend to have a compact room at the back.

Flats in converted villas may have no lift and shared hallways, and narrow village lanes can make delivering long worktops difficult. Most of Dorset has hard water, so limescale on taps, sinks and boiling water taps is common, and a scale-reducing filter can help.

Do you need approval for kitchen design and planning in Christchurch?

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.

Thatched and listed cottages may need listed building consent for internal changes, and owners of flats in converted houses usually need the freeholder's consent before work starts.

Getting the most from your kitchen design and planning

Note where sunlight falls in your Christchurch kitchen during the day, as it affects where people like to prepare food and sit.
Ask for the plan for your Christchurch kitchen to show socket, switch and light positions as well as units, so the electrician can follow it.
Open every cupboard in your current kitchen and decide what you use, what you store and what you could do without before planning storage.
Plan landing space either side of the hob and next to the oven and fridge, so hot pans and shopping always have somewhere to go.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Christchurch

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Christchurch?

For measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere, budget around £310 to £930 including VAT in Christchurch. That reflects typical costs in the South West; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Which parts of Christchurch do you work in?

All of them. Our Dorset coverage takes in the whole of Christchurch, including the BH23 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Bournemouth. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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.

How long does kitchen design take?

Usually one to three weeks from the survey to a final plan, depending on how many layout options you want to compare and how quickly choices about doors, worktops and appliances are made. A replacement in the same layout can be settled quickly, while an open-plan room with an island or moved services often takes a few rounds of changes.

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.

Also covering nearby towns

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