Kitchen design and planning in Hastings

Who usually needs kitchen design and planning in Hastings?

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

People in East Sussex planning an open-plan kitchen-diner often want a layout drawn before their builder starts, so services end up in exactly the right places. Kitchens in every part of Hastings are covered, and the survey visit is free wherever you are in East Sussex.

What is in a typical job?

Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:

Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan
Socket, switch, lighting and extraction positions marked for the electrician

Guide prices for kitchen design and planning in Hastings

Typical kitchen design and planning prices for homes in Hastings, including VAT and adjusted for the South East. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Prices in the South East usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.

Guide prices for kitchen design and planning in Hastings
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 Hastings 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.

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

Regulations for kitchen work in Hastings

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

Before the survey, list what frustrates you about your current Hastings kitchen; it is the quickest way to shape a better layout.
Note where sunlight falls in your Hastings kitchen during the day, as it affects where people like to prepare food and sit.
Open every cupboard in your current kitchen and decide what you use, what you store and what you could do without before planning storage.
Work out the route for cooker hood ducting to an outside wall before fixing the hob position, as long or bent runs reduce extraction.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Hastings

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Hastings?

Guide prices in Hastings are about £340 to £1,000 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.

Which parts of Hastings do you work in?

All of them. Our East Sussex coverage takes in the whole of Hastings, including the TN34 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Bexhill-on-Sea. 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.

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 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.

Nearby places we cover

We also carry out kitchen design and planning in these towns near Hastings: