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 centred 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 meant issues were resolved quickly and practically — no waiting around for generic drawings or off-the-shelf fixes. We rebuilt the side return from scratch, installing structural steelwork into pad foundations to support the entire new wing. We kept building control involved throughout, so each stage, from demolition to steels, was checked off properly before moving on.

Because the house was empty, we were able to work efficiently and sequence the heavier tasks (like craning in the steels) without disruption. That gave us the chance to make solid progress early and avoid the logistical compromise that often comes with occupied builds.

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

The result

The transformation was comprehensive, inside and out. What was once a cold, awkward, and structurally unsound rear extension is now a warm, functional and attractive kitchen-dining space, fully integrated into the house. With major upgrades throughout — including new roofing, windows, electrics, and finishes — the house has been brought up to modern standards while retaining its character.