Case Study:
West Drive, Brighton

The brief

The client wanted to fully refurbish a late-Victorian home in Brighton, with a focus on unlocking space and improving day-to-day liveability. The project centres around replacing a poorly built side conservatory with a new kitchen extension, alongside upgrading the rest of the house to modern standards — from heating and electrics to windows, roofing and finishes.

The challenges

As soon as work began, it became clear the existing rear structure was unsafe. The conservatory and surrounding elements had been built to a poor standard and needed to be completely demolished and rebuilt. The main roof was also at the end of its life, and multiple areas of penetrating damp were identified throughout the house. Adding to the complexity was the need to crane in large steel RSJs and crank beams, all without compromising the scaffold or leaving the structure exposed to the weather.

There was also the usual suite of older-property quirks — inconsistent lintels, asbestos risks, aged plumbing and uneven floors — all of which required careful planning to resolve without unexpected knock-ons.

Our approach

Rather than patching up sub-par work, we took the opportunity to do things properly. Working closely with the architect and structural engineer has meant issues have been resolved quickly and practically — no waiting around for generic drawings or off-the-shelf fixes. We’ve rebuilt the side return from scratch, installing structural steelwork into pad foundations to support the entire new wing. We’re keeping building control involved throughout, so each stage, from demolition to steels, is signed off properly before we move on.

Because the house is empty, we’ve been able to work efficiently and sequence the heavier tasks (like craning in the steels) without disruption. That’s given us the chance to make solid progress early and avoid the logistical compromises that often come with occupied builds.

Our familiarity with Brighton housing stock also helps — knowing how these houses are built, where the limits lie, and what can realistically be achieved makes it easier to plan and deliver a high-spec result without over-promising.

Next steps

The new structure is now in place, and we’re moving on to internal fit-outs, roofing upgrades and final finishes to bring the whole house up to standard while retaining its character. Check back soon for updated photos and progress — we’ll share more as this transformation takes shape.