Kitchen design and planning in Greater London

Why do people in Greater London choose kitchen design and planning?

If your Greater London kitchen is a narrow galley in an older terrace, a measured plan shows whether one run, two runs or moving the door works better.

Families across Greater London sometimes want a layout that lets two people cook at the same time, which changes how the working zones and walkways are planned.

What does kitchen design and planning in Greater London include?

Here is what usually goes into kitchen design and planning, adjusted to your Greater London kitchen after we have measured it:

Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan
Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
Socket, switch, lighting and extraction positions marked for the electrician
Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
A final plan and specification to order from and fit to

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Greater London?

The figures below are guide prices for Greater London, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across London. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices in London usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Greater London?
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	£390–£1,200
Detailed design with 3D views and elevationsFor larger or open-plan kitchens	£780–£2,000

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%.

Kitchens in homes across Greater London

The housing mix across Greater London includes Victorian and Edwardian terraces, conversion flats, mansion block flats and 1930s semis, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Victorian terraces often have a narrow galley beside the side return, while conversion flats and mansion blocks usually fit the kitchen into a small room or along one living-room wall.

London's mains water is hard, so limescale builds quickly on taps and boiling water taps, and a scale-reducing filter is worth planning in. Permit parking, red routes and flats without lifts are common, so parking suspensions, stair carries and lift bookings may need arranging before delivery day.

Opening a narrow galley into the dining room or side return is one of the most common terrace projects in London. Leasehold flats often call for a full kitchen in a small space, worked around building rules on noise, working hours and waste.

Rules for kitchen design and planning in Greater London

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.

Conservation areas are widespread across London, so a new extractor vent on a front wall may need permission, and leaseholders usually need the freeholder's written consent first.

Before you start

Keep the sink, hob and fridge reasonably close; the classic work triangle is a useful check, not a rule every kitchen must follow.
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.
Base units are typically 600 mm deep with a worktop height of around 900 mm; taller or shorter cooks may want this adjusted.
Mark radiators, the boiler, stopcock and meters on the plan early, as moving them adds cost and changes what can go where.
Open every cupboard in your current kitchen and decide what you use, what you store and what you could do without before planning storage.
Measure the appliances you are keeping, including the depth with the doors open, and bring the sizes to the design meeting.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Greater London

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Greater London?

Guide prices in Greater London are about £390 to £1,200 including VAT for measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.

Do you cover the whole of Greater London?

Yes. We carry out kitchen design and planning across Greater London, including Brent, Islington, Westminster and Bexley. Every job starts with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote.

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.

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.

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.

Kitchen design and planning in towns across Greater London

Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage:

Kitchen design and planning in Greater London

Why do people in Greater London choose kitchen design and planning?

What does kitchen design and planning in Greater London include?

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Greater London?

Kitchens in homes across Greater London

Rules for kitchen design and planning in Greater London

Before you start

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Greater London

Kitchen design and planning in towns across Greater London

Kitchen design and planning in nearby areas

Book a free survey visit in Greater London

Book a free survey visit