Kitchen design and planning in St Austell

Thinking about kitchen design and planning in St Austell?

People in Cornwall planning an open-plan kitchen-diner often want a layout drawn before their builder starts, so services end up in exactly the right places.

If your St Austell kitchen is a narrow galley in an older terrace, a measured plan shows whether one run, two runs or moving the door works better. Our Cornwall coverage reaches every part of St Austell (PL25) and out towards Bodmin.

What we cover for kitchen design and planning in St Austell

After the survey visit we write the scope down. For kitchen design and planning in St Austell it usually covers:

Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan
A final plan and specification to order from and fit to

Guide prices for kitchen design and planning in St Austell

Typical kitchen design and planning prices for homes in St Austell, including VAT and adjusted for the South West. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Costs in the South West sit close to the national guide.

Guide prices for kitchen design and planning in St Austell
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%.

Kitchens in homes around St Austell

Typical homes in this part of Cornwall include granite and slate cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war bungalows and converted barns. Older stone cottages often have a small, low-ceilinged kitchen with uneven walls, while post-war bungalows tend to have a square kitchen beside a separate dining area.

Narrow lanes, steep harbour streets and cottages with no parking outside can make delivering long worktops tricky, so delivery day needs planning in advance. Mains water across most of Cornwall is soft, which is kinder to taps and appliances, so heavy limescale build-up is rarely a problem.

Regulations for kitchen work in St Austell

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.

Where a cottage is listed or sits in one of the many harbour-town conservation areas, consent may be needed before a new extractor vent is cut through an outside wall.

Worth knowing before the fit

Open every cupboard in your current kitchen and decide what you use, what you store and what you could do without before planning storage.
Ask for the plan for your St Austell kitchen to show socket, switch and light positions as well as units, so the electrician can follow it.
Measure the appliances you are keeping, including the depth with the doors open, and bring the sizes to the design meeting.
Base units are typically 600 mm deep with a worktop height of around 900 mm; taller or shorter cooks may want this adjusted.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in St Austell

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in St Austell?

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

Do you cover all of St Austell?

Yes. We work across St Austell, including the PL25 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Bodmin and Truro. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.

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.

Also covering nearby towns

Close to St Austell? We cover these nearby towns too: