Kitchen design and planning · Hampshire
Kitchen design and planning in Southampton
Our kitchen design and planning service covers Southampton and nearby places such as Hythe, Hampshire and Totton, with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote as the first step.
When does kitchen design and planning make sense in Southampton?
Owners of new-build homes in Southampton sometimes redesign the standard kitchen after a few years to add tall storage, an extra appliance or a breakfast bar.
In a Southampton semi with a small back kitchen, planning often comes down to fitting more storage and worktop into the same footprint without crowding the room. If your home is in Southampton or close by in Hythe, Hampshire or Totton, the same survey, quote and fitting process applies.
What is included in the work?
Your written quote lists everything included. For kitchen design and planning, that normally means:
- Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
- Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
- A final plan and specification to order from and fit to
- Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
- Socket, switch, lighting and extraction positions marked for the electrician
- Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Southampton?
Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in the South East, and are firmed up once we have seen your Southampton kitchen. Prices in the South East usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.
| 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%.
Local homes and their kitchens
You will find Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, post-war estate houses and thatched and brick cottages throughout Hampshire. Terraces in Southampton and Portsmouth often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war estate houses tend to have a compact rectangular room suited to an L-shape.
Dense terraced streets can be very tight for parking, and New Forest lanes and village roads may limit the size of delivery vehicle. Water across Hampshire is mostly hard, largely from chalk sources, so limescale on taps and boiling water taps is common and a filter can help.
Building regulations, electrics and gas in Southampton
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.
Homes within the New Forest or South Downs national parks, listed cottages and conservation areas may need consent for a new extractor vent or alterations to historic features.
Planning ahead
- Before the survey, list what frustrates you about your current Southampton kitchen; it is the quickest way to shape a better layout.
- Note where sunlight falls in your Southampton kitchen during the day, as it affects where people like to prepare food and sit.
- If your home in Hampshire has a boiler in the kitchen, ask for service access to be designed in rather than boxed in tightly.
- 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 Southampton
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Southampton?
Guide prices in Southampton 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 Southampton do you work in?
All of them. Our Hampshire coverage takes in the whole of Southampton, including the SO15 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Hythe, Hampshire. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.
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.
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.
Also covering nearby towns
Neighbouring towns where we offer kitchen design and planning:
- Kitchen design and planning in Hythe, Hampshire
- Kitchen design and planning in Totton
- Kitchen design and planning in Eastleigh
- Kitchen design and planning in Romsey
- Kitchen design and planning in Fareham
- Kitchen design and planning in Lymington
- Kitchen design and planning across Hampshire