Case Study:
Shirley Drive, Brighton

The brief

This project involves a significant rear extension and internal reconfiguration to create a large, open-plan kitchen-dining space at the back of the house. The scope also includes first-floor alterations and modernisation throughout. The overall aim is to transform the living space while ensuring the new elements blend naturally with the existing home — as though they’d always been there.

The challenges

One of the key challenges is aesthetic continuity. To satisfy planning and maintain the home’s character, it’s essential that the materials — especially the clay roof tiles and facing bricks — match the existing fabric as closely as possible. This has meant carefully sourcing reclaimed and new materials that will weather in sympathetically.

Another major technical hurdle came with the installation of underfloor heating. The original flooring had to be removed and dug down extensively to accommodate the new system, requiring careful sequencing and consideration of insulation and damp protection.

The team also faced an issue with a very large roof light originally specified as a single piece — which would have been impractical to deliver and install safely.

Our approach

From the outset, the focus has been on delivering a high-quality, practical build that meets both visual and technical goals. For the external finishes, we’ve sourced matching roof tiles — including reclaimed clay tiles — and used careful brick selection to ensure the new structure feels fully integrated with the original.

The underfloor heating has required full floor excavation and a re-lay from the ground up, but by planning this early and working efficiently, we’ve kept progress on track. It helps that the team has tackled similar projects before and knows what to expect with this type of retrofit. We’ve worked with building control throughout, with each stage signed off as we go.

For the oversized roof light, we’ve worked with a specialist supplier to design a modular alternative. This has allowed the client to keep the sense of light and openness without compromising buildability or cost. The modular units were craned in and assembled on site with minimal disruption — a smart, workable solution to a design challenge that could have derailed the schedule. And while the work goes on, we’ve set up a temporary kitchen for the family to keep daily life running stress-free.

Next steps

The main structure is in place and the internal works are progressing, with final finishes and joinery to follow. Once complete, the extension and reworked layout will create a calm, bright heart to the home — blending old and new just as planned. Check back soon for updated photos and a full look at the finished space.