Expert Builders in Lewisham
Reliable extensions, loft conversions and renovations for Lewisham's Victorian terraces and period properties across SE13 and surrounding postcodes.
Builders in Lewisham, SE13
Lewisham is one of South East London's most dynamic boroughs, a neighbourhood undergoing significant regeneration while retaining the character of its Victorian and Edwardian residential streets. Long rows of handsome Victorian terraces, bay-fronted semis and converted period properties line the streets around Lewisham town centre, Ladywell and Brockley, offering homeowners excellent potential to extend, convert and modernise. Alstruct Ltd provides dependable, quality construction services throughout SE13 and the wider Lewisham borough, helping homeowners unlock their property's full potential.
The predominant housing stock across Lewisham consists of two and three-storey Victorian terraces with rear additions, side returns and generous loft spaces ripe for conversion. Properties around Ladywell and Hither Green feature classic London stock brick construction with slate roofs, bay windows and period detailing that reward sensitive renovation. The ongoing Lewisham town centre regeneration — including the Bakerloo line extension plans — is driving strong property value growth, making considered investment in extensions and renovations particularly worthwhile. Alstruct designs every project to maximise both living space and long-term return.
Lewisham Council operates a proactive planning department with several conservation areas, including the Blackheath and Brockley Conservation Areas, where additional design controls apply. Alstruct's design team prepares applications that satisfy Lewisham's conservation requirements and building regulations. Whether you need a permitted development rear extension, a loft conversion or a full planning application for a larger project, we handle every aspect professionally.
Why Choose Alstruct in Lewisham?
- Deep experience with Victorian terrace extensions and conversions
- Strong knowledge of Lewisham Council planning and conservation policies
- CHAS Elite, Constructionline Gold & FMB accredited
- Free site survey and transparent, detailed quotation
- Dedicated project manager for every build
- In-house design team for drawings and planning applications
- Quality craftsmanship with reliable project timelines
- Published case studies with scope, programme and budget
Construction Services in Lewisham
Extensions in Lewisham
Rear, side return and wraparound extensions for Lewisham's Victorian terraces, creating open-plan kitchen-diners and additional family living space.
Learn more →Loft Conversions in Lewisham
Dormer and mansard conversions transforming unused roof space into bedrooms and en-suites across Lewisham's period terraces and semi-detached homes.
Learn more →Renovations in Lewisham
Complete property refurbishments from kitchen and bathroom renovations to full whole-house transformations, breathing new life into Lewisham's period properties.
Learn more →Basement Conversions in Lewisham
Basement excavation and conversion adding valuable living space beneath Lewisham's Victorian terraces, ideal for home offices or entertainment rooms.
Learn more →Groundworks in Lewisham
Expert foundations, underpinning and drainage solutions for extensions and structural work across Lewisham's clay-rich ground conditions.
Learn more →Landscaping in Lewisham
Patios, garden paths, boundary walls and courtyard spaces designed to complement Lewisham's Victorian gardens and urban outdoor areas.
Learn more →House and kitchen extensions in Lewisham
Lewisham has Victorian terraces in Brockley, Ladywell and around Hither Green, Edwardian houses in Lee and on the Blackheath fringes, and 1930s semis towards Catford. Rear and side-return kitchen extensions are the standard Lewisham projects; the wider Edwardian houses in Lee take a wraparound.
Brockley, Ladywell, Blackheath and Lee Manor are conservation areas with Article 4 directions on some or all streets; elsewhere most houses keep national permitted development rights for a single-storey rear extension. Most Lewisham extensions we price fall between £2,500 and £4,000 per m², so a 25–30 m² kitchen extension is roughly £75,000–£120,000 fitted out; our house extension cost guide breaks the numbers down. We check permitted development rights at the first visit and deal with Lewisham Council in-house.
Planning a kitchen extension? See our kitchen extensions page for layouts, glazing and costs.
Loft conversions in Lewisham
Lewisham's Victorian and Edwardian roofs suit rear dormers and L-shaped dormers; in Brockley's conservation area a rear-only dormer is expected.
Expect £45,000–£75,000 for a dormer loft with a bedroom and en-suite, £60,000–£100,000+ for a mansard and from £25,000 for a Velux conversion; the loft conversion cost guide has the breakdown. For a Lewisham loft we measure head height, roof structure and the stair landing first, and the quote includes structural calculations and Building Regulations approval.
Renovations and refurbishment in Lewisham
Lewisham renovations are often complete refurbishments of Victorian terraces and flat conversions with new kitchens, bathrooms and services. Typical Lewisham refurbishments include structural openings with steel beams, new kitchens and bathrooms, rewiring, heating and period repairs such as sash windows, cornices and floors. See our renovation cost guide for realistic budgets. Lewisham projects are run by a single project manager under a JCT contract, with a written specification and a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Guides for homes in Lewisham
For the Victorian and Edwardian terraces that make up much of Lewisham, our most useful guides are side return extension costs, dormer loft conversion costs, party wall costs, bay window structural problems and leaking lead roof valleys.
Planning approvals in Lewisham
Lewisham Council approved 89.2% of householder planning applications decided between September 2025 and August 2026, against a London average of 85.8%; a typical decision took about 8.0 weeks from validation. Loft conversions that needed planning permission were approved 82.8% of the time and extensions 90.2%.
See how every London borough compares, including loft and extension approval rates, in our 2026 London planning approvals study.
Alstruct projects near Lewisham
Limehouse Cottage, E14
Underpinning, ground and first-floor extensions and a full renovation with bespoke joinery.
View project →Bow Victorian Terrace, E3
Victorian terrace: ground-floor lowering, underpinning, flat-roof extension and large roof glazing.
View project →Stratford Twin Terraces, E15
Zinc-clad loft conversions, kitchens, bathrooms and structural works on two Victorian terraces.
View project →The projects above are our nearest published work to Lewisham, the closest about 3.5 miles away. We work across every London borough from our office in South Woodford, E18, and regularly take on projects further out. See all completed projects →
Common questions about building in Lewisham
Do I need planning permission for an extension in Lewisham?
Houses in Lewisham (not flats or maisonettes) keep national permitted development rights for a single-storey rear extension of 3m attached or 4m detached, up to 6m or 8m through prior approval, and for most rear dormers (40 cubic metres on a terrace, 50 elsewhere). Lewisham Council's conservation areas include Brockley, Ladywell, Lee Manor, Blackheath, St Mary's and Lewisham Park. A conservation area keeps the single-storey rear right but removes rights for side extensions, two-storey rear extensions, cladding and roof additions. All six have Article 4 directions (in Blackheath, on specified streets) controlling visible windows, doors, roofs, porches, front boundaries and painting on single-family houses.
What does Lewisham Council expect for loft conversions in Lewisham?
Lewisham's Alterations and Extensions SPD, adopted in April 2019, asks for rear dormers set at least 0.3m in from each party wall, 0.3m below the ridge, 0.3m from any hip and 0.3m above the eaves. In conservation areas such as Brockley and Ladywell dormers should be modest and clear of the ridge, eaves and chimneys, so a large L-shaped dormer may not suit. Front dormers are normally resisted, and in most cases resisted in conservation areas.
What does a side return extension or dormer loft cost in Lewisham?
For the Victorian terraces of Ladywell, Brockley and Hither Green, a side return extension at mid to high specification is typically £65,000–£130,000 including VAT; our side return extension cost guide explains what drives the figure. A rear dormer loft conversion is £45,000–£75,000 and an L-shaped dormer £55,000–£85,000, both including VAT, with the breakdown in our dormer loft conversion cost guide. The final price depends on the structure, glazing and finish you choose.
Which Alstruct projects are nearest to Lewisham?
Our nearest published projects are Limehouse Cottage, E14, about 3.6 miles away: underpinning, ground and first-floor extensions and a full renovation with bespoke joinery; Bow Victorian Terrace, E3, about 4.6 miles away: a Victorian terrace with ground-floor lowering, underpinning, a flat-roof extension and large roof glazing; and Stratford Twin Terraces, E15, about 5.5 miles away: zinc-clad loft conversions, kitchens, bathrooms and structural works on two Victorian terraces.
Which parts of Lewisham do you cover?
We cover SE13 and the surrounding postcodes, including Lewisham town centre, Ladywell, Brockley, Hither Green, Lee and the Blackheath fringes, out towards Catford. Planning across the area is handled by Lewisham Council. We work from our office in South Woodford, E18, about 9 miles away, and also cover nearby Greenwich, Blackheath and Peckham.
Nearby areas we cover
Alstruct works across every London borough. Here are areas close to Lewisham with dedicated local pages: